6 Best Easels for Paint and Sip Classes

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If you have ever been to a paint and sip party, or have at least seen how the painting stations are set up, you have probably seen an easel at each station. 

The canvas must be at just the right height and angle for an artist, hence the need for an easel.

I have gotten into the bad habit of setting my canvas on a piece of board and then putting the board on my lap. This is because I don’t always have the room to set up an easel. 

But, I usually end up getting paint all over my pants, so I have ruined a lot of outfits by painting this way.

When I teach at sip and paint classes, I always use an easel, and I always have each student use one as well. It is better to get into good habits early, to avoid making the same mistakes that I have made.

With so many different types of easels available, you may be wondering which one is going to be the best for your painting needs.

Today we are going to talk about the different easel stands you can use for paint and wine parties and the benefits of each.

Let’s get started.

Types of Easels Used for Paint Parties

There are all kinds of different easels you can use at paint and sip parties. Generally, I tend to bring along tabletop easels.

These easels are compact and usually fairly lightweight, which I like because I am usually bringing at least 15 to 20 or more to painting parties. These easels are very portable, so you can take them pretty much anywhere.

Let’s take a look at the various types of easels available.

#1. A-Frame Easels

This is one of the most common types of easels. It has an A-frame shape, much like a tripod, with two front legs and one back leg. This type of easel has a horizontal base for the canvas to sit on.

These easels are ideal for home studios, but not my first choice for sip and paint events. While they work well, they are large and rather cumbersome, so several of these easels will not fit inside my car.

#2. H-Frame Easels

The H-frame easel is very sturdy and perfect for artists’ studios. It gets its name because it is shaped like the letter H, with a vertical surface that can be tilted according to the artist’s preferences.

Again, these are great easels, but not ideal for painting parties because they are quite large.

#3. Convertible Easels

Convertible or hybrid easels are H-frame easels that can go from vertical to horizontal positions. They are quite versatile.

What I like about this type of easel is that it can be converted to a flat, tabletop easel quite easily. While they aren’t ideal for painting parties, they are better than traditional H-frame and A-frame easels when it comes to portability.

#4. Tabletop Easels

My favorite type of easel for paint and sip classes is the tabletop easel. Not only are they ideal for large groups in smaller spaces, but they are also perfect for displaying the finished paintings.

Another option is an a-frame easel that has telescoping legs. This will allow you to adjust the height so it can be used as a tabletop easel.

#5. Portable Easels

Another of my favorite types of easel is the portable easel. These are perfect for paint nights because they are not only lightweight but also fold up for easy storage and portability.

You can often get these easels with carrying bags. Some have handles and/or shoulder straps that make them easy to carry around if you are painting outside of your home, or taking them to paint and sip events.

#6. Single-Mast Easels

If you are looking for affordability, you may want to check out single-mast easels. These have a horizontal base and a vertical support that is narrow.

The simple construction makes these easels the least expensive, but they are not as sturdy as the other easels we have looked at today. I do not recommend this type of easel for paint and drinks parties.

What to Look for When Buying Easel Stands

While I tend to use portable or tabletop easels for paint and sip nights, I do like to talk about the other types of easels to the party guests. I also discuss the various things that they should look for in a good easel stand.

#1. Materials

One of the most important considerations when it comes to choosing an easel is the material it is made with. Ideally, a good easel will be durable, lightweight, portable, and weather-resistant.

Wood

You will find many large, H-frame easels made with wood, beech wood in particular. Not only are these easels great to use, but they are also quite attractive. But, I wouldn’t be using this type of easel outdoors, to avoid damaging the wood.

Aluminum

Another option is an aluminum easel. Easels made with aluminum are lightweight and weather-resistant, so they are great for painting outdoors, or for taking to paint and sip parties.

Because they are so lightweight, aluminum easels are one of my top picks for painting parties. They are not only strong but also lightweight and durable. They are also more affordable than many wooden easels.

#2. Adjustability

Because I have to transport easels and other art supplies to paint parties, I love using adjustable easels. These easels allow each artist to position their canvas at just the right height and angle.

I find that the H-frame easels are the most adjustable. They can be used at a variety of heights, and they tilt at many angles so they can go from flat horizontal to vertical and every angle in between.

Why would you want a flat, horizontal surface? You would want to keep your canvas or paper on a flat surface if you are working with watercolors or doing paint and pour sip classes.

A-frame easels are also great for paint parties in art studios because the legs can be adjusted for standing or tabletop use. They can also be used outdoors on uneven ground, as each leg can be adjusted separately.

#3. Storage

There is one more thing I would like to mention about choosing the best paint and sip easels: storage. When not in use, you need to be able to store your easel(s).

I find that A-frame easels are the easiest to store because they can be folded down. Some even come with carrying bags that can be used for storage when the easels are not being used.

Whether you are a paint and sip teacher or a party guest, it is important to have the right easel. I hope you found the information in this article helpful in making the right choice for your next paint and wine classes.

*image by PeopleImages/depositphotos