"the easel that is art"
The Easelmark Story
As my daughter's 20th birthday approached in 2009, I decided to use the few shop tools I had to make her a birthday gift. She was studying oil painting, so an art easel seemed a good choice. My resources were so limited that I built it from the cheapest wood I could find. It was my own design. Fortunately, my daughter liked it and began to use it immediately.
Her art teacher liked it too. He had been teaching her without payment, so I made another easel from better wood - and an improved design - and gave it to him. He's still using it.
Friends and co-workers thought I should try to sell my easels, and that is how Easelmark began. I have sold many of my easels, but gave some to Jeff Morello, an art teacher friend, for his classroom. He, in turn, gave some of them as gifts to deserving students. (You can read about Jeff below.)
In keeping with the small beginnings of Easelmark, I make every easel myself and hope to maintain a connection with every artist who acquires one. I hope you, too, will come to appreciate "the easel that is art."
Her art teacher liked it too. He had been teaching her without payment, so I made another easel from better wood - and an improved design - and gave it to him. He's still using it.
Friends and co-workers thought I should try to sell my easels, and that is how Easelmark began. I have sold many of my easels, but gave some to Jeff Morello, an art teacher friend, for his classroom. He, in turn, gave some of them as gifts to deserving students. (You can read about Jeff below.)
In keeping with the small beginnings of Easelmark, I make every easel myself and hope to maintain a connection with every artist who acquires one. I hope you, too, will come to appreciate "the easel that is art."
The easel that is art
Easelmark handcrafted artist easels begin with straight boards, each chosen for its pleasing grain pattern. From these boards, I fashion a mast, legs, braces and such. Corners and edges are rounded to make the easel comfortable to handle.
The tray and upper clamp mount in slots in the mast, and because there are no preset stops, they can be set at any height desired. The upper clamp features a 5° bevel so that even thin items can easily be secured against the mast. The tray on floor-standing models features a shallow gutter for brushes and is slightly raised above the beam to help secure canvases against the mast. The tray on tabletop models has a grooved "washboard" surface.
A unique feature of an Easelmark is the articulated kickstand. The kickstand and strut are assembled and attached to the main easel frame using four hinges which permit the kickstand to be extended for use or folded flat against the mast for transport or storage. A hasp locks the kickstand in the open position and a spring-loaded latch locks the kickstand in the stowed position.
An Easelmark easel is sturdy, but for safety’s sake, I suggest that items placed on the tray of floor standing easels weigh no more than 20 lbs., and no more than 10 lbs. on a tabletop easel. An Easelmark stands firm and quiet on three rubber feet.
Prior to shipping, every Easelmark is completely assembled to assure that all parts fit together and that the kickstand opens and stows properly. The tray and upper clamp are checked to make sure they fit snugly but slide easily in their slots. Each has a pin which holds it in the proper horizontal orientation. All screw holes are drilled and threaded for easy assembly.
An easel from Easelmark is inviting to behold and a delight to use.
The tray and upper clamp mount in slots in the mast, and because there are no preset stops, they can be set at any height desired. The upper clamp features a 5° bevel so that even thin items can easily be secured against the mast. The tray on floor-standing models features a shallow gutter for brushes and is slightly raised above the beam to help secure canvases against the mast. The tray on tabletop models has a grooved "washboard" surface.
A unique feature of an Easelmark is the articulated kickstand. The kickstand and strut are assembled and attached to the main easel frame using four hinges which permit the kickstand to be extended for use or folded flat against the mast for transport or storage. A hasp locks the kickstand in the open position and a spring-loaded latch locks the kickstand in the stowed position.
An Easelmark easel is sturdy, but for safety’s sake, I suggest that items placed on the tray of floor standing easels weigh no more than 20 lbs., and no more than 10 lbs. on a tabletop easel. An Easelmark stands firm and quiet on three rubber feet.
Prior to shipping, every Easelmark is completely assembled to assure that all parts fit together and that the kickstand opens and stows properly. The tray and upper clamp are checked to make sure they fit snugly but slide easily in their slots. Each has a pin which holds it in the proper horizontal orientation. All screw holes are drilled and threaded for easy assembly.
An easel from Easelmark is inviting to behold and a delight to use.