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Painting Easel: A Plein Air Easel

What to look for in an easel you're going to use for plein air painting.

From Marion Boddy-Evans, About.com

A painting easel you use outdoors, or plein air, needs to be portable, easy to set up, and not blow away in the wind. I use a lightweight aluminum one that deals with small- and medium-sized canvases. It folds up and packs away into a bag that's the length of the piece on which the canvas is supported. The wind does grab it a bit unless the canvas is small, but putting a foot on one leg stops it blowing over or away. I find it invaluable when out painting, and back home I use it to hold a work in progress that I'm busy contemplating rather than painting.

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Portable easel for plein air painting or sketching outdoors.Painting Easel: Table Top or StandingPortable easel for plein air painting or sketching outdoors.Painting Easel: Small CanvasesPortable easel for plein air painting or sketching outdoors.Painting Easel: Small Canvases (Side View)Portable easel for plein air painting or sketching outdoors.Painting Easel: Clamp Holding the Canvas
Portable easel for plein air painting or sketching outdoors.Painting Easel: Strut Supporting the CanvasPortable easel for plein air painting or sketching outdoors.Painting Easel: Rotating FeetPortable easel for plein air painting or sketching outdoors.Painting Easel: Folded Up
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