Easel with pulley system

Richard Bingham · 02-11-2010, 02:51 PM

I guess Marvin and I do play a little rough at times, but I'd like to take Jean's "scolding" as a good opportunity to make it clear that I do value Marvin's comments and input. He is a working professional and an all-around "class act".

Of all the high-end easel offerings, the Hughes is worthy of being in the "prestige" tier. The big difference in its counter-balanced lift system is that the cables are steel, and never "free" so long as the tray is compensated by loading the counter-balance. Like raising an old-fashioned double-sash window, the movement should require minimal effort so long as it's properly set up. And . . . the Hughes indeed is complex enough (patented, yet!) to be beyond the range of what amateur wood-workers can manage.

Jean, you do inspire, as one who keeps "at it" in the face of adversities that would have most dissolving in self-pity and simply giving up on everything. Let's hear it for the Norwegians!

Jean Kelly · 02-12-2010, 10:31 AM

Hi Richard, and thanks for "playing nice"! If this easel will work as well as I hope, then I won't need a flexible elbow and forearm brace, saving many $$$ and freeing up my arm. I was beginning to think I would look like "Edward Scissorhands" in order to paint!!!.

I respect both of your opinions also, but it took a while for me to figure out that I already had what you were suggesting, probably not the quality though.

So wish me luck, I hope to hear from Hughes and get this ball rolling. In the meantime, I'm working on yet another landscape and these can be more difficult than portraits. I also have a series of dragons in the sky formed from clouds that I am in the process of screwing up! I've even done (oh my God!) ABSTRACTS.

Thank you,
Jean Kelly

Jean Kelly · 02-19-2010, 10:27 PM

Hi all,
Got a back brace two days ago and yesterday painted for two, yes two hours!!! I even got a few broad, juicy strokes in, felt sooooo good.

Jean

Jean Kelly · 03-06-2010, 10:23 AM

Well, sometime in the near future I will have the Hughes easel, along with other assistive devices to help me become a functioning artist again!

I've got some work ahead of me with muscle retraining and exercise, but am looking forward to it, and hope iI can still do some portraiture. I do believe that my style will change, but I was always too tight anyway, so this could be a good thing.

Thank you so much for all your assistance and help, Terri, Richard M, Marvin, and Richard B. It was all appreciated ( even the little "rough play").

Respectfully,
Jean Kelly