A Guide to Studio Furniture and Easels
Studio easels are suitable
for larger canvases and
designed to be especially
stable during
intensive work.
Lightweight and portable, sketching easels are fully adjustable for a choice of heights and angles.
Table easels are ideal for artists who have limited studio space or who work on a small to medium scale.
Compact boxes that bring your studio outside, with compartments for storage, a palette, and a built-in easel.
Print racks are a portable and practical solution for displaying artwork and ideal for use at art fairs or in the studio.
Browse a selection of easel accessories including tripods, canvas carriers, extension trays, and umbrellas.
Introduction to studio furniture
Whether your art space is a small corner at home or a separate studio, the right furniture is key. Essentials like a sturdy table, comfortable chair, and storage solutions can make your workspace safe, functional, and organised, helping you focus on your creative work.
Studio H-Frame Easel
Studio H-Frame Easel
Studio H-Frame Easel
Radial Easel
What is the best easel for my studio?
The right easel depends on your space, the size of your work, and how you like to paint. Here’s a short summary to help you choose.
For a comprehensive guide to easels, visit our Ultimate Easel Guide on Jackson's Art Blog.
Studio Easels are large and stable, making them great for large projects:
H-Frame Easels: These are sturdy with a solid base and central column. They can hold large canvases and often have storage shelves or drawers. Some models have wheels for easy movement, and others have crank handles for adjusting height. H-Frame easels can tilt horizontally, making them good for fluid mediums like watercolour.
Pros: Very stable, holds large canvases, some have storage, good for horizontal work.
Cons: Heavy, takes up space, hard to stack.
Radial Easels: These easels take up less space and are easy to move. They have three legs and a thin frame, making them ideal for small studios or home use. Radial easels are popular for life drawing classes because they stack easily.
Pros: Compact, easy to move and store.
Cons: Less stable than H-frame easels. Not recommended for large canvases.
A-Frame Easels: Also called lyre easels, these have a tripod structure. They are lighter than H-frames and easier to store. They can hold large canvases but don’t usually tilt for horizontal work.
Pros: Sturdy, easy to store, lighter than H-Frames.
Cons: Takes up space, not always suitable for horizontal work.
Table easels are perfect for small-scale work or limited space:
H-Frame Table Easels: These are smaller versions of studio H-Frames, offering good stability. Some have drawers for storing supplies.
Tripod Table Easels: These are mini A-Frames, available in wood or aluminium. They fold compactly but are less stable than H-frames.
Box Easels: These easels double as storage boxes with adjustable lids as canvas supports. They’re portable and great for working in different locations.
Pochade Boxes: Designed for plein air painting, these compact boxes open to reveal an easel. They have storage for paints and brushes and can be mounted on a tripod.
Choose an easel based on your workspace, the size of your art, and how you like to work. For more information, read our Ultimate Easel Guide on Jackson's Art Blog.
Table Easel
A-Frame Easel
French Box Easel
Lighting for the studio
Good lighting is essential for artists. It helps you see clearly and ensures colours look accurate. Daylight Lighting is a great option. It offers lamps with clamps, floor stands, or table stands to provide light exactly where you need it.
- Less Eye Strain: Daylight Lamps use Daylight™ technology to keep your eyes comfortable, even after long hours of work.
- Accurate Colours: Daylight lets you see colours as they truly are.
- Energy Saving: Daylight bulbs use 80% less energy and last 10 times longer. This saves money and helps the environment.
- Low Heat: Daylight lamps stay cool, so they are safe to touch, providing comfort and safety.
Daylight Lamp
Jackson's Print Rack
Displaying work in the studio
Print racks are great for displaying works on paper. They stand on the floor and display artwork and prints flat on their side. The wide opening at the top allows viewers to browse easily.
Typically, watercolours, prints, or drawings are placed in cellophane sleeves with a stiff card for protection, so visitors can flip through them without causing damage. The rack can also be folded up for easy transport and storage.
Another option for displaying work is using easel stands. These are perfect for showing single pieces at a time, whether on a tabletop or the floor. Easel stands are adjustable, letting you display different sizes of artwork. They are also easy to move around the studio.
For smaller works or prints, A-frame display easels are useful. They keep your work at eye level on a desk or table, making it easy to see details up close.
Artist storage for the studio
Planchests are great for storing works on paper. They protect your art from dust and damage. While they take up space, the top can be used as a work surface or additional storage.
Vistaplan offers metal and wooden plan chests in sizes from A2 to A0, with 6 to 12 drawers. Before buying, check the size of your space and how much you need to store.
The drawers slide smoothly on steel rollers, making them easy to open. Planchests are ideal for storing prints, drawings, watercolours, and other paper supplies.
Other Studio Furniture
Drawing boards are either freestanding or to be placed on a tabletop for use – they are angled for maximum comfort. Some have a wire-parallel motion bar running across the board on which you can rest paper or use as a rule; these are also popular for graphic designers and illustrators.
Vistaplan art workstations do not have a rule but does have a convenient carry handle and slots for keeping your pencils close to hand. These workstations are particularly useful for sketching and drawing. All these drawing boards have adjustable angles.
Sculpture stands and plinths are for use on a tabletop or freestanding on the floor. Some rotate so that it is easy to work on all sides of your three-dimensional artwork. They are constructed of oiled, stain-resistant beech wood, and can be used for clay, terracotta, and ceramic work.
What is the Best Way to Display a Sculpture?
The best way to display a sculpture is by using a pedestal or plinth that complements its size. This ensures the sculpture remains the focal point, similar to how a mount or frame enhances an artwork or print. Also, ensure it can be seen from all angles without obstructions.
- For sculptures with a focal point between 12 and 24in (30 to 61cm): Use a 42in (107cm) pedestal
- For sculptures with a focal point between 30 and 36in (76 to 91cm): Opt for a 36in (91cm) pedestal
- For sculptures over 36in (91cm): Choose a pedestal that is 24in (61cm) or shorter
Further Reading
Glossary
A
A-Frame Easel
A three-legged easel with a triangular shape. Lighter and more compact than an H-frame easel.
Adjustable Easel
An easel with movable parts that can change height and angle. Good for those needing different working positions.
Artist Workstation
A multi-functional art desk. For drawing, painting, or drafting. Some have tilting surfaces and built-in storage.
B
Bevelled Edge
A slightly angled edge on easel crossbars or drawing boards. Prevents marks on paper or canvas.
Box Easel
A portable easel with built-in storage. Folds into a compact box. Ideal for travel and painting en plein air.
C
Canvas Carrier
Made to transport wet canvases safely and store paintings while they dry.
Canvas Holder
The adjustable grips on an easel that secure a canvas in place. This term is sometimes used to describe a canvas carrier.
Crank Easel
An easel with a crank handle. Allows for easy height adjustment. Common in professional studios.
D
Daylight Lamp
A lamp that mimics natural daylight. Helps artists see true colours and reduces eye strain.
Display Easel
A lightweight easel used to showcase an artwork or prints. Often foldable and adjustable.
Drawing Board
A smooth, portable surface for sketching and painting. Can be used flat or at an angle.
E
Easel
A stand that holds a canvas, panel, or paper while an artist works. Easels date back to ancient times. The earliest known depiction of an easel is in an Egyptian relief from the Fifth Dynasty, c. 2465-2323 BC.
Easel Stand
A small, tabletop stand. For displaying artwork, prints, or supporting small canvases.
F
French Box Easel
A combination of a box easel and a sketching easel. Has extendable legs and a built-in palette. Ideal for plein air painting.
H
H-Frame Easel
A solid, rectangular easel with a wide base for stability. Ideal for large canvases. One of the most common easels seen in an artists' studio.
L
Lightbox
A flat, illuminated surface. Used for tracing, detailed drawing, and much more.
M
Mahl Stick
A long stick with a padded end. Used to steady an artist’s hand while painting fine details.
P
Palette Table
A work surface designed for mixing paints. Some include drawers for storage.
Planchest
A flat file storage unit with multiple drawers. Used for storing large sheets of paper, drawings, prints, and artworks safely. Available in wood or metal, with sizes ranging from A2 to A0. Ideal for studios, galleries, and archival storage.
Plein Air Easel
A portable easel. Designed for outdoor painting. Often lightweight and collapsible.
Pochade Box
A small, portable painting box with a built-in easel. Used for plein air painting.
Print Rack
A freestanding or tabletop rack. For displaying unframed prints, drawings, or works on paper.
R
Radial Easel
A three-legged easel that takes up less space than an H-frame easel. Ideal for small studios.
S
Sculpture Stand
A rotating or fixed platform for working on 3D artworks.
Studio Easel
A large, stable easel. Designed for use in a studio. Usually made from wood or metal.
Studio Lamp
A lamp designed to provide bright, even lighting for artwork.
T
Table Easel
A compact easel that sits on a desk or table. Suitable for small-scale work.
Tilting Easel
An easel that can be adjusted to different angles. Useful for fluid mediums like watercolour.