What are Easels?
If you are an artist or intend to be one, you may find an easel necessary for your trade. Easels hold two-dimensional media – a canvas or paper – while you work. Easels can also be used to display finished work, in an art show or simply as a decorative piece in your home. Easels are traditionally constructed of three legs, which form a tripod. The legs are attached at the top. The two front legs oppose the center leg, which swings backward to form the tripod and brace the easel. A shelf running horizontally across the two front legs supports the artwork. Easels have been used since ancient times. Although early easels were probably very crude, the design of modern easels has been improved and can now offer artists many useful features. Large easels are often made with telescopic legs, legs that collapse to a shorter length for easy transportation. Not all easels are made in the traditional tripod style; some easels have four legs, a sturdy base, wheels on the bottom for increased mobil