A few people have asked me about the easel I have been using in my temporary studio, so I thought I would share a review of it now that I’ve been using it for about a month. EdgePro PaintBook Easel in the large size, walnut finish. I’ve been looking at this easel for a long time, but felt like the one I had was sufficient to bring with me on trips. I paint mostly in my studio, so I didn’t need anything too fancy. (As an FYI, I bought this easel and this review is not sponsored.)
For a few years, I’ve been using the , which is a great palette/easel combination for the price ($130.) It adjusts to hold small and large panels, the palette is a nice size, and it has side tables for brushes and accessories.
After a few years of use, though, the easel started slipping when I applied too much pressure to the panel. It’s also a little clumsy to clean out and isn’t as easy to pack as other models I researched.
Since I am going to be painting in a temporary set-up for a while I decided to start seriously looking for an upgrade. I also would like to do more Plein air (outdoor) painting, so making an investment will be worth it for the short and long term.
After much research, reading reviews, and asking artists who own the EdgePro PaintBook as well as other travel easels, I decided this one had the features I was most interested in. I’ve been giving it a good workout, using it almost daily while we’ve been in our Airbnb and I am very happy with it.
I’ll start off the EdgePro PaintBook review by saying the size is great. It is just an easel and a palette without any bulk for storage or wet panels. I have separate wet panel carriers and usually put my paints in a zipper pouch, so this is all I needed. It is about the size of my laptop, but it’s a little thicker than a MacBook Pro. I can easily put it in a backpack and carry it around, though. It also has a beautiful wood finish. You can get it in different stains and finishes, but I preferred walnut.
Along the side of the PaintBook, there are magnets to attach accessories. I bought a set of the side tables to use for brushes, a terps jar, and an oil cup.
The panel holders are also attached to the easel with strong magnets. There is a bit of a learning curve to adjusting them, but they are easy once you get the feel for them and they hold a panel securely in place. You can purchase magnetic panels to just stick to the easel for convenience, but I prefer that I prime myself. Not only are they inexpensive and easy to transport/ship, but I like the surface and how juicy oil paint looks on them.
It’s easier to show the features of the EdgePro PaintBook in a video review, so you can watch this if a travel easel/pochade is on your wishlist…
The only downside to this easel is that it’s a little top-heavy when it’s sitting on a table. This won’t be an issue when it’s attached to a tripod, but when it’s just sitting unattached, it tends to tilt backward. I ended up leaning it up against a writing slope box and that did the trick. This is important to note if you’re planning on using it primarily as a tabletop easel.
Otherwise, it’s perfect and I have been painting up a storm. I have painted so much that I ran out of room in my wet panel carried and I had wet paintings leaning all over my temporary studio. I also ran out of panels and had to order more. That is a great problem to have when you have been itching to paint.
This is my most recent painting of a pair of antique baby shoes.
I love how it turned out so much that I ordered a few more pairs of antique baby shoes so I can make a series. I will make prints of them available as well because I think they will be so cute in a nursery or kid’s room. I mean, I just love antique baby shoes so I would hang it anywhere it works!
I’ve also been taking some online art classes and finished a couple of Velasquez studies…
I plan to hang them in our next house if I have the perfect spot.
I know not all of my readers are artists, but I was asked about my EdgePro PaintBook easel enough that I thought it was worth offering a review.
If you’re interested in learning to use oil paints or brushing up, you can sign up for some free art classes HERE or join us in my Jeanne Oliver class on painting still life in oils – Alla Prima HERE.
12 Responses
EdgeProGear has a table top stand that you can buy for using it on a flat surface. It balances the palette perfectly. The stand and a good tripod means it can truly go anywhere!
Oh, good to know! I missed that, but will have to check it out.
Sebastian is my favorite thing you have ever painted.
Thank you!
I love your paintings and wish I had the talent to do so myself. How old do the baby shoes have to be? I have two pair of my baby shoes – a white pair and a pair of pink sandals, but they are only 73 years old ?. Looking forward to finding out where y’all land next!
The video review was so helpful to understand the ins&outs of how it works. Thank you for doing that for us!
Could you attach a magnet panel to the easel, and just use painters tape on the back of a wood panel to stick it to the magnetic panel, to hold it securely?
Love seeing you painting more! ??
Do you think you will eventually sell a print of Sebastian or the other dog? I love your work and your technique with the two dog paintings was so beautiful.
Karen B.
Your recent paintings are just wonderful!
Your paintings are beautiful! I am in awe of your talent and how quickly you get so many done. What an exciting experience in life to have the freedom of time to pursue your painting and to also get to have that excitement of finding a dream home in a new town full of so many possibilities and adventures. For someone like me who has moved only twice, once when I got married and moved out of the house I grew up in, and once when we moved as a young married couple from a mobile home to the house we built 35 years ago, your adventures this summer are so exciting to me. I’ve always dreamed of picking up and moving south and living somewhere historical or near the sea.
Not an artist here. How can you paint with the palette right in front of your painting? I would be constantly dragging my forearm into the paints, especially when working on the bottom half of the painting. The bottom left side would for sure be a mess for me since I am right handed. Anyone is welcome to answer this, since I am really curious. Thanks in advance.
Oh, sure thing! Painting is done more from your shoulder than your wrist or elbow, so I’m not resting my elbow in front of the painting (on the palette.) I do sometimes get a little paint on my arm, but on;y if I’m really not paying attention. I also use a mahl stick when I do need to rest my arm on something for steadiness.
Ah, I see. Thanks for the info and reply. Of course I had to look up mahl stick. What a practical tool.