​The LederEasel, a Creative Solution Born from Real-Life Experience
The LederEasel isn’t just another art tool—it’s the result of one person’s journey of trial, error, and a whole lot of creative problem-solving. Its story is a reminder that sometimes the best ideas come from trying to fix something that just doesn’t work the way you need it to.
A Creative BeginningBack in the 1970s, after finishing art school, I experienced quite a few ways of utilizing the skills I learned including freelancing in photography, becoming a potter, learning woodworking, in addition, I later designed and built trade-show exhibits. Somewhere along the way, I found myself drawing floor plans by hand on a drafting table.
Using a T-square, lead pointers and other tools of that time had its challenges. If I made a mistake or a change order came through, there’d be a lot of erasing and lost time. Frustrated, I decided to take a night class to learn how to use a computer which enabled the process to become more efficient. Once I got my first Apple computer, my whole approach to design changed forever. |
Fast forward to 2016. I wanted to try a hands-on approach and try something completely new, away from the computer—painting. I decided to learn how to use pastels, so I got a French field easel, a big box of Rembrandt pastels, and signed up for a workshop with the incredible pastel artist, teacher and friend, Liz Haywood-Sullivan. That’s when I quickly realized... I had bought the wrong stuff. The pastels I had were mostly primary colors, lacking subtle values and grays. And the easel? Bulky, fragile, and annoying to set up. I noticed some of the other workshop attendees had lightweight setups that attached to a tripod. On the drive home, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much better their gear looked. That’s when the idea hit me—I should design my own.
Turning Frustration into a Solution
With years of experience designing store fixtures and connections to fabricators, I had the skills (and the acquaintances) to make it happen. My first prototype was ready by the time I went to my next workshop. It was simple, sturdy, and attached to my existing tripods. It set up in seconds, held my board sturdily in place, and made painting a whole lot easier.
During our lunch break, some of the other attendees approached me and asked where I got my easel. When I explained I’d designed and built it myself, they suggested, “You should make more of these.” Their encouragement provided me with validation and encouragement to pursue the idea further.
During our lunch break, some of the other attendees approached me and asked where I got my easel. When I explained I’d designed and built it myself, they suggested, “You should make more of these.” Their encouragement provided me with validation and encouragement to pursue the idea further.
Two Years of Tweaks and Experiments
It took two years of experimenting—trying everything from magnets to springs—to figure out the perfect design. In the end, I kept it simple and focused on functionality. At the same time, I designed the Palette Holder to complete the setup, and the LederEasel Kit was finally ready.
A Tool for Artists EverywhereWhat started as a personal project has grown into something much bigger. Today, thousands of artists in 23 countries use the LederEasel, whether they’re working in their studios or painting outdoors. It’s lightweight, easy to set up, and makes creating art less of a hassle—which was the whole point in the first place.
The LederEasel is proof that some of the best ideas come from real-life challenges. It’s not fancy or overcomplicated—it’s just a tool that works, and that’s exactly what I needed when I started this journey. Who knew that a little frustration and some creative problem-solving could turn into something that helps artists all over the world? |