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 Sienna Plein Air Pochade Box, 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 THESE wood panels 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.