Not Every Support Is an Easel

If you’ve ever worked in a studio or a teaching environment, chances are you’ve seen a simple wooden structure known as a sawhorse.

For many people, it has become so familiar that over time it started being perceived as a drawing tool.

But in reality, a sawhorse is not an easel.

It was originally designed as a universal work support — valued for simplicity, durability, and practical use across different types of work.

And yet, over the years, many artists have learned and practiced on setups built around this type of support.

When Habit Becomes Tradition

Many older educational spaces were designed around practicality.

The priorities were:

• durability
• simple construction
• affordability
• fitting many workstations into one space

In that context, sawhorse-style supports became a natural choice.

But this raises a question:

If a tool was never originally designed for painting or drawing, how well does it actually support the creative process?

It’s Not Just About Posture

When working with a board supported on a sawhorse, artists often end up:

• leaning forward more than necessary
• getting too close to the artwork
• frequently adjusting body position
• staying in a strained posture for long periods

But comfort is only part of the story.

In visual work, viewing angle and lighting conditions also matter.

When artwork is viewed from too close or from an unnatural angle, it becomes more difficult to judge the overall image — proportions, values, contrast, and relationships between colors.

This becomes especially noticeable in painting, where stepping back and evaluating the work from a distance is often part of the process.

If the setup constantly keeps the artist too close to the surface, there is a greater chance of making decisions based on immediate impressions rather than the whole composition.

That can lead to extra corrections and time spent reworking areas that already seemed finished.

Easels Were Created for a Different Purpose

The idea behind an easel was different from the beginning.

Its purpose was never simply to hold something upright.

An easel was designed to:

✓ encourage a more natural working position
✓ allow the artwork to be viewed from a comfortable distance
✓ improve consistency of lighting across the surface
✓ reduce unnecessary leaning
✓ create a more fluid working process

This does not mean better artwork can only be created on an easel.

But a tool designed specifically for visual work often makes the process more natural and easier to manage.

Why We Build Mount Hill Easels

At Mount Hill, we believe that tools should support the creative process — not become an obstacle.

That’s why we focus on:

• stable construction
• adjustability
• natural beech wood
• comfortable workflow
• long-term use

We do not believe tools create artists.

But we do believe the right tool creates better conditions to do your best work.

What was your first experience — working on a simple support setup or on an actual easel?