need to replace my french easel for plein air oil painting. My instructor and director of our Art Academy has an older Grumbacher with a julian plate on it, an older Maybef and he just purchased a Hunington Tripolar he saw in Colorado because it was "well built". They are all about the same price 120.00 to 160.00. I don't know which one to go for. Many folks at the academy go for cheap and replace often. I prefer to go with one that lasts, as my last one split and lost an important screw.
Thanks for your help.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by nolagem:
I think I need to rephrase my request: I need to replace my french easel for plein air oil painting as my previous one broke. I Don't know which to purchase, Jullian, maybef or Hunington. I paint outside 3 to 4 days a week and live in a hot humid climate. Any Suggestions on which easel to purchase?

I have a genuine Jullian easel. I like the style of this kind of easel. Although they were apparently invented by Jullian, they are made by all manner of companies. I use it for outdoors, it is heavy, so you might want to take that into consideration, I don't mind the weight..too much.

I don't like the fact that the drawer droops, it is very irritating, and Jullian have failed to get back to me, about how to correct it. I was told by their UK distributor that the latest ones don't droop so much. Evidently they said they allowed the play in the drawer, because people don't like it seizing up when the wood gets damp.

In retrospect I would have bought the one made by Mabef, I've had a chance to look at it closely, and it seemed a very nicely built easel minus the problem of the Jullian.

Regards,

Brad

Take a look at EasyL at website artistsessentials.com It sets up in under a minute and is very sturdy.