Martin Jullian Original -Style Full Size Wooden French Sketch Box Easel

Although I haven't used it much yet, it seems to be a good quality easel. There was only one screw missing from the package otherwise everything was as advertised. So far I'm happy with it.Update:Now after about a year of very mild use, one of the screws (that cannot be thitened because the way it's set up) is getting loose and just spinning around when I try to make it thighter, that suppose to secure one of the legs.The other problem almost since the beginning I started to use this easel is that the screws on the folding part and bottom of third leg cannot be thightened enough by hand (collapsed every time I tried) so I have to carry/use a plier to do that.So, in overall it's not a high quality easel. I was dissapointed I tought that all Jullian easels were made to high standards. I guess not.

This easel is not worth $200. And it is nowhere near worth the $600 MSRP. Not in a million years.The overall build and finish quality of this easel are very poor. Especially for the price. I have seen numerous easels (under different brands) at the same and lower price point. Absolutely nothing about this easel differentiates it from cheaper easels.CONS:- Unlike description states, there are no hidden spikes in the legs.- Unlike description states, the "real leather" strap is not leather at all. It is some kind of other material with an extremely thin vinyl covering.- Unlike another reviewer claims, this easel is not made in France. It is made in China, as the printing on the box and tag indicate.- The stain looks nothing like the pictured easel. The stain on the easel I received is very blotchy and inconsistent.- The finish on this easel is rough. Not much, if any sanding was done on most of the parts on this easel.- The metal drawer lining is very poorly and cheaply attached with staples. A large part of it was lifting out of the easel I received.- Many parts of the easel are covered in glue drips and spills. The metal inside of the drawer has a huge glue spill on it.- Quite a few of the parts are splintered or have small chips.- The dividers in the drawers are fixed. They can not me moved or customized at all.I could go on and on... But to sum it up, if you are looking for a high-quality easel, do not be misled by this easel's super inflated MSRP. It is hardly different than generic easels costing half as much (almost all of the hardware on this easel is identical to easels costing much, much less).You're very likely to find a higher quality easel (Artist's Loft brand) at your local chain art/craft store (Michaels). And if you can wait, they'll likely sell it at 1/2 off several times throughout the year.If you have a dedicated art store near you, and want a high quality French easel, I highly recommend shopping there for a French easel. If you buy an easel from this site, you're rolling the dice on quality.

I really like this easel, but it is very heavy and not great for plein air. It is not easy to set up and take down but if you're going to leave it up and paint in a studio for a while, it's great. It is very well made and that's probably why it's heavy. Takes a while to learn how to set up/take down.

I used this easel for my oil painting and art.

Only two words to describe this sketch box ... THE BEST! Sturdy, and stylish. Great finish and aluminum faced drawers makes it perfect to store messy paint tubes and easy cleanup.

As the last reviewer indicated, this easel is poorly made and is made in China. Our easel had an improperly glued base that was coming apart and an improperly set dovetail joint. Really not useable for plein air painting when you are counting on a steady, reliable easel for outdoor use.When we tried to return the item, the seller (Martin Universal Design) refused to give us our full payment back claiming that only a screw was loose and the easel was fine otherwise. Fortunately, we took pics to prove the defects in the item before sending it back. Amazon came through for us and we got a full refund.Based on the poor quality of the easel and Martin Universal's attempt to deny the existence of the defects and then charging us a restocking fee and a return fee, does not bode well for their reputation, IMHO.If you want to purchase this easel from another seller, ask the seller if it is provided by Martin Universal before purchasing. Buyer beware.Thanks again, Amazon, for helping us get a full refund and for your quick customer service.

I am disappointed in the quality of this easel based on the higher price I paid for a top brand. One of the leg braces needed to be replaced and the drawer is too short for the box.

Quality suffers greatly. It arrived damaged in several places. It’s heavy and not worth the money. I returned it and got the Mabef half box instead—not trying to dis Julian in favor of Mabef, but the Mabef half box is light years ahead in quality and portability.