New Easel
I recently had this folding easel built by Jeff Lacey at Easels Galore in Victoria, this is the Horizontal to Vertical Fully Folding model, made from Spotted Gum. I’ve only had it a short while now, but already it’s clear this is an easel that should last quite a long time. As you can see, it’s a beautiful bit of equipment, and the craftsmanship shows real care and quality. The tilting action from vertical to horizontal is very smooth and balanced, and the tightening knobs are made from Victorian River Red Gum, which is knotted to avoid splitting. They are a pleasure to use for folding and tilting the easel, so much nicer than wingnuts or other fasteners used on cheaper easels. The wood is certainly solid; spotted gum seems to be a heavier hardwood, so although the portability of the easel is lessened, it should survive anything I can throw at it (quite literally, I would imagine).
There’s definitely something about a piece of hand-crafted equipment that is really appealing, and I heartily recommend Jeff’s easels if you’re in the market for a new one.
