Hughes Easel

[Peggy Baumgaertner]

Beth,

It's a Model 4000, and I love it. Could not live without it. The best purchase I've ever made.

Peggy

[Leslie Ficcaglia]

After reading your praise I too wanted a Hughes easel, but haven't been able to reach them. I sent a couple of emails a few weeks ago and have tried calling since then, but there is no answer. Then I realized that the company is located in Punta Gorda, FL, and may have been impacted by Charlie. I wonder whether the business is still there? Maybe I should consider the Sorg easel instead, although I liked the side-to-side motion that the Hughes easel offers.

[Richard Monro]

Leslie, I too am a Hughes easel fan. They are absolutely wonderful to work with. I have the 4000 model. Hughes Easels is still in business. I talked to Don Andrews the other day to see how bad he was hit by the hurricanes. The factory came through fine but Don's house and that of 2 members of his immediate family were hit pretty bad. Consequently he has had to spend a lot of time on repairs rather than production. So don't give up trying to reach Don. It will be worth the wait to work with a Hughes easel.

[Leslie Ficcaglia]

Richard, I had initially placed an order with Don for a Hughes easel at the end of August, but when I didn't hear from him by mid-October I finally went ahead and ordered a Sorg easel instead. Don did finally call me toward the end of October or beginning of November to say that he was ready to begin work on my easel, but I told him that I'd had to buy another one. I'm sure I would have loved the Hughes easel if I had been able to get it in a timely fashion, and of course I understand the impact that two hurricanes would have on a business, but I had already sold my main easel and needed to replace it. I'm very pleased with the Sorg and especially like the tray, which works well for the way I like to paint. I also like the fact that the Sorg has a smaller footprint and doesn't take up as much room in my studio.

Thanks for giving me an update, though.

[Sharon Knettell]

Hi,

I have been considering getting a Hughes. The problem with other easels is that they do not go low enough. I want the canvas to sit as low as possible to the floor. I work sight size and I find that even though the model is on a platform, the canvas needs to be about 4-6 inches off the ground to capture her feet.

How low off the ground can you place a canvas on a Hughes?

[Richard Monro]

Sharon,

My Hughes 4000 goes to within 4 inces of the floor and up to the top of my 10 foot ceilings. This easel would work well with your size panels.

[Sharon Knettell]

Richard,

Thanks. I have a really beautiful Abiqui Deluxe by Best easel. It was the best I knew about at the time, pre-internet. The problem is I am getting so tired of hauling those heavy canvas and panels up and off the easel to adjust it.