Easels ⁽¹⁶⁾

Easel stands are a fantastic tool to paint and display your masterpiece using the same vertical angle you will use to show off your finished work. We've got easels for kids and adults to suit every painting style, including A-frames and box options.
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Art Easels Online Australia

Riot Art & Craft stocks a wide range of art easels online in Australia, from compact tabletop easels and kids art easels to full studio H-frames and portable setups. We stock models for both beginners setting up their first art table and professional artists needing a sturdy wooden art easel for large-scale work. Brands include Eraldo Di Paolo, Renoir and The Art Studio. Free metro shipping on orders over $80.

Browse the full range of art easels and art stands below and find the right setup for your practice today.

Types of Art Easels

Choosing the right art easel depends on how and where you paint. The main types available at Riot are:

• Tabletop easels — compact and lightweight, ideal for small works, beginners, and limited studio space

• A-frame easels — freestanding with a wide, stable base suited to small to medium canvases

• H-frame easels — heavy-duty studio easels built for large canvases, offering maximum stability for oils and acrylics

• Portable and plein air easels — lightweight and foldable for painting outdoors or on location, some with built-in supply storage

• I-frame display easels — designed solely to showcase finished artwork at home, in studios, or at events

• Kids art easels — smaller easels for little artists with features like whiteboards, chalkboards, and paper holders

Studio & H-Frame Easels for Large Canvases

For artists working at a serious scale, a studio H-frame is the most stable and functional option. Riot stocks wooden H-frame easels by Eraldo Di Paolo built to hold canvases up to 42" x 42" securely during extended painting sessions. The wide footprint and adjustable canvas holder make them the preferred art stand for oil and acrylic painters working on large pieces. The Eraldo Di Paolo Gallery Beech Wood Easel and the Eraldo Di Paolo Multimedia Studio Easel are both standout options for a permanent studio setup.

How to Choose an Easel for Your Medium

Different mediums place different demands on an easel. For oils and acrylics, a stable H-frame or A-frame that holds the canvas firmly at eye level is ideal. For watercolour, a near-horizontal position is often preferred to prevent paint from running, so look for an easel with a wide tilt range. For sketching and drawing, a lightweight tabletop easel or portable easel with a board clip works well. For plein air painting outdoors, a travel easel with a carry bag and adjustable legs handles uneven terrain comfortably.

Pair your easel with the right accessories. Browse our paint palettes, palettes and painting knives and full range of painting accessories to complete your studio setup.

Kids' Easels & Beginner Picks

For beginners, Riot stocks compact, lightweight tabletop easels with adjustable heights starting from $17.99, making them an accessible first art stand without a big investment. The Eraldo Di Paolo and Art Studio tabletop ranges are both solid starting points for anyone setting up their first painting space at home.

For young artists, the Crayola Kids Deluxe Wooden Art Easel is a standout pick, combining a whiteboard, chalkboard, and paper holder in one complete art table solution for little ones at home. It's also a popular gift for kids who love to create.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an A-frame, H-frame, and lyre easel?

An A-frame is a simple freestanding easel suited to most canvas sizes. An H-frame is a heavier studio easel with a wider, more stable base designed for large canvases and extended painting sessions. A lyre easel is a lightweight, portable option with a tripod-style leg configuration, popular for plein air work and display use.

What is a French box easel?

A French box easel combines an artist's easel with a built-in storage box for paints, brushes, and palettes. The Art Studio Artist Travel Box Easel available at Riot is a version of this format, giving painters a self-contained, portable studio for outdoor and location painting.

Can I use an easel for watercolour painting?

Yes, but watercolour requires a near-horizontal canvas angle to prevent paint from running. Look for an easel with a wide tilt adjustment range. A tabletop easel or adjustable A-frame both work well for watercolours at the right angle.

Are there easels suitable for kids? 

Yes. Riot stocks several kids art easel options. The Crayola Kids Deluxe Wooden Art Easel is a popular choice.