When I first heard the term "art donkey" my initial reaction was that it didn't sound very cool. It seemed to me to be an obscure term for a type of easel that I was unfamiliar with. In fact, my first thought was of the song "Beast of Burden" by the Rolling Stones (for those unfamiliar with the song, the famous line is "I'll never be your beast of burden"). A little investigation on my part revealed the more appealing features of this type of easel.

Wooden Easel Stands

This is actually a unique and useful piece of art studio furniture. The concept is that it holds things on it's back (like a donkey). Or as the Rolling Stones song suggests, it can be your "beast of burden." It can also be called an art horse or an art pony. A more generic term is "bench easel."

Wooden Easel Stands

The art donkey or bench easel is very handy if you want to sit down while you draw and paint. Lately, sitting at an easel is more appealing, as many artists that are in my age bracket don't enjoy standing and painting as much as we did in the past. That could be done at a drawing table, but a bench easel takes up far less space in an art or painting studio. Many bench easels fold up for portability or storage. They are manufactured of wood or steel. Some even have a padded bench.

How it works:

The bench has a perpendicular structure that you lean your drawing or painting on. There are grooves on the bench surface to hold the drawing pad or canvas. The sketch pad or canvas can be tilted at various angles against this perpendicular or upright part of the bench to form an easel.

Many artists build their own bench easels, though the basic wooden models are reasonably-priced in art supply stores. The steel art horses or benches are more expensive, but are more durable. These and often have the ability to adjust the easel in a variety of positions including for use while standing or sitting, as well as other specialized features such as adjustable leg levelers for uneven floors.

A bench easel takes up less space in an art room or studio than a drawing table and it is a great choice for anyone who isn't able to stand and paint or sketch for long periods of time at a traditional easel. So, it really is a "cool" piece of art studio furniture after all.

The Art Donkey (Or Art Horse) Is Cooler Than it Sounds

Wooden Easel Stands