Seated man

[Michele Rushworth]

Very nice! Makes me want to run out to the local open studio sessions too.

I wanted to spend the entire first hour trying to keep the drawer from sliding open and spilling all my paints while I got the legs up.

Here's the trick: assemble the legs upside down while the whole top and box of the French easel is still closed and locked tight. Then turn the thing upright. After that it's safe to open the box and put on your canvas.

But in an hour and a half I'd still be looking for the yellow ochre too!

[Alexandra Tyng]

Originally Posted by Michele Rushworth

Here's the trick: assemble the legs upside down while the whole top and box of the French easel is still closed and locked tight. Then turn the thing upright. After that it's safe to open the box and put on your canvas.

Thank you, Michele!

[Linda Brandon]

Nicely direct and bold, Alex. I think you have a real a knack for painting men.

I would like to lobby against setting up a French easel in an open studio classroom since the legs splay open much more than an upright studio easel. I've been in several crowded classroom settings where portable easels have been set up and somebody (either the easel owner or somebody else) trips over one of the legs and chaos results. The Soltek has an especially wide spread and though I trip over the legs of mine all the time, I'm by myself and I don't take down anyone else with me.

[Alexandra Tyng]

Linda, thank you! Of course I have a knack for painting men.

You are right about the French easel legs. Having never owned one before, I was quite shocked at how much floor space it occupied once I finally got the thing assembled. I did even have a fleeting thought about how I was going to fit myself in if the place was crowded.

[Debra Norton]

Never having gone to an open studio, do you typically have to bring your own easel?

[Alexandra Tyng]

Debra, they did have easels there, but several were being used by students finishing projects, so I am not sure how many would be available on a regular basis. I just brought my own because I am more comfortable with my own equipment. It might depend on the place. Does anyone know?