FAQ about your plein air easel
Common Questions and Answers
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How large a surface can I paint on with the Take It Easel?
• The standard Take It Easel will support a canvas as tall as about 5', and there is nothing that limits your horizontal size.
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How small a surface can I paint on with the Take It Easel?
There is truly no limit to how small you can paint on your Take It Easel, depending on your set up. If you choose to use the hooked rod to secure the top of your artwork, the minimum height is about 4", and the minimum horizontal is about 6". You can paint even smaller on your Take It Easel by securing your small surface to a larger surface with tape, a clamp, etc., see the Take It Easel Main Gallery for an example of this.
Category: Artwork and Supplies
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How is my canvas or panel supported on the Take It Easel?
• Your canvas or panel sits on two Artwork Support Pegs (every Take It Easel comes with three Artwork Support Pegs, one is a spare), which are inserted into the holes on the front two legs of the Take It Easel
• Your canvas or panel is pinned down at the top of your Take It Easel using either the hooked rod or bungee cord (see images).
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Where can I buy the easel umbrella shown with the Take It Easel?
This is an umbrella my mother, Rosalie, has had for years. Dick Blick and Judson's Plein Air Outfitters are great sources for easel umbrellas.
Category: Artwork and Supplies
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Where can I buy the box shown on the Take It Easel?
Category: Artwork and Supplies
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How much does the Take It Easel weigh?
• The standard Take It Easel weighs just 8 ½ lbs. Leaving your extender leg and hooked rod at home slims your Take It Easel down to just 7 ½ lbs.
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What is the height of the Take It Easel palette support?
The height of the Take It Easel palette support (where you set your oils, pastels, etc.) varies based on how you set up the Take It Easel. It can be as low as 6" off the ground to as high as 3' off the ground.
Category: Dimensions
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How tall is the Take It Easel when open?
• With the Take It Easel fully opened, the total height is 5'7".
• With the Take It Easel fully opened and in a narrow stance, the total height is 6'1".
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How long is the Take It Easel when closed?
When closed, the Take It Easel is 3'10" long.
Category: Dimensions
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How big is the leg span or footprint of the Take It Easel?
• With the Take It Easel fully opened, the leg span is 5'10" from left to right, and 5'6" from front to back.
• With the Take It Easel fully opened and in a narrow stance, the leg span is 4' from left to right, and 4' from front to back.
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How stable is the Take It Easel in windy conditions?
Its wide leg-span makes the Take It Easel one of the most stable plein air easels on the market
There are many places on the Take It Easel where you can hang your bags and supplies, which further stabilizes your Take It Easel while keeping your stuff out of the mud!
The Extender Leg holes at the bottom of each Take It Easel leg allow you to tie the Take It Easel down with weights or tent pegs if you're painting in a monsoon!
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How long will my Take It Easel last?
Unlike many imported products today, your Take It Easel is hand crafted, and built to last a lifetime…your Take It Easel should literally last for decades! The strength and quality of our materials, simple design, and attention to detail during construction make these easels nearly indestructible. Also, your Take It Easel comes with a LIFETIME GUARANTEE on all materials and workmanship.
Category: Materials/Craftsmanship
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What is the Take It Easel made from?
• The Take It Easel wood is North American hard maple, sourced primarily from Vermont and upstate New York, and some from Canada. I currently have the Take It Easel wood milled locally in Vermont.
• The Take It Easel hooked rod dowels are birch, which is the most common wood used for doweling because of straightness.
• The Take It Easel internal springs are rustproof case hardened stainless steel, and the knobs are solid brass.
• Other Take It Easel parts materials include brass (nuts, bolts & pins), brass-plated steel (hinges), copper-plated steel (palette support bar brackets), and zinc plated steel (hinge eye-bolt).
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What can I do to maintain and extend the lifetime of my Take It Easel?
The Finish on your Take It Easel, which gives your easel it's smooth feel and protects your Take It Easel from the elements, is SC Johnson Fine Paste Wood Wax. It is applied by hand with a fine-grade steel wool. To protect your Take It Easel's finish, you can apply a coat of SC Johnson Fine Paste Wood Wax (or other comparable product) once a year, or whenever you desire.
Category: Materials/Craftsmanship
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Can I use the Take It Easel indoors?
Yes you can use your Take It Easel!
At the bottom of each Take It Easel leg is a nail-head, which helps protect the Take It Easel's wooden legs on harsh terrain
When painting indoors with your Take It Easel, simply protect delicate flooring with a piece of rubber, carpet, cardboard, etc
