Jackson’s Easels cater to all kinds of painting situations, from light portable easels for outdoor use, to heavy, sturdy easels for large work in the studio. Artist Phoebe Dickinson uses Jackson’s Easels in her painting practice, and here she discusses the pros and cons of the Jackson’s Radial Easel and the Jackson’s French Style Box Easel.
Phoebe Dickinson Tests Jackson’s Easels
The absolute key to successful and happy painting is to have the right equipment and first and foremost comes the easel. Many times I have regretted having the wrong equipment, and from many years of trial and error I have found that certain easels are best for different situations.
Jackson’s Radial Easel
In my studio I usually have an array of different easels, but it’s when I’m out and about, and not in the comfort of my studio with options to choose from, that the easel choice really becomes important. I do a lot of portraits on location. I might have to carry my easel quite a long distance but also fit it neatly into a small space. For this out of the studio/on site type of work I always take my Jackson’s Radial Easel with tilting centre. It is perfect as it is not too cumbersome to carry but can hold a really large painting.
It doesn’t take up masses of room and is quick and easy to set up even for someone that hasn’t used one before. The central tilting device means that you can tilt the canvas forwards to avoid any glare you might get on your canvas, and it is relatively easy to adjust up and down. My only complaint about this easel is that it doesn’t pack down small and so would be hard, but not impossible, to travel on a train with for example.
Jackson’s French Style Box Easel
For those moments when I need something more contained and easier to carry, I use the Jackson’s French Style Box Easel. This is the perfect easel for large landscape painting and is particularly good if the weather conditions are windy. Unlike other plein air travel easels it is robust and heavy enough to stand up to quite strong winds. If its gale force winds, a bag of sand/stones or heavy paints on the back of it will help weigh it down. The adjustable legs make it great for uneven land, and it is the sort of easel that would last you a lifetime if you look after it.
It folds up and carries all your equipment in it, and you can then carry it like a heavy briefcase. My only complaint about this kind of easel is that it is heavy if you are walking far and you do have to learn the knack of setting it up. (For a first time user setting it up can seem complicated.) If you are looking for a light weight travelling easel that makes it easy for walking to tricky locations then your best bet is something like the Jackson’s Pochade Painting Box. With these three easels you really would be set up pretty well for any conditions.
About Phoebe Dickinson
Phoebe has had five successful solo shows. She has exhibited in the Royal Society of Portrait painters annual exhibition five times. In 2022, Phoebe was awarded a certificate of excellence at the portrait society of America and in 2021 she was awarded the RP Award at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters for her portrait of Alethea.
In 2019 she won the Burke’s Peerage Foundation Award for classical inspired portraiture at the Royal society of Portrait Painters exhibition and was highly commended for the De Lazlo Award. Phoebe’s portrait for the Cholmondeley Children at Houghton Hall was chosen for the BP Portrait Award 2018 exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.
See Phoebe’s upcoming exhibition, Great Houses and Gardens of England at Dickinson Gallery, 58 Jermyn Street, St James’s, London, SW1Y 6LX.
8th – 23rd November | 10.00 am – 6.00 pm
Saturday 18th November | 10.00 am – 1.00 pm
Friday 23rd November | 10.00 am – 1.00 pm
Further Reading
Jackson’s Medium H-Frame Studio Easel Review
Plein Air Oil Painting Set Ups: Pochade and French-Style Box Easels
Underpainting in Oil and Acrylic
How to Resolve a Landscape Painting Composition
Shop Jackson’s Easels on jacksonsart.com
