Hi everyone,
I’m buying a French Easel as a birthday surprise for my girlfriend and I’m stuck between the Mabef M/22 (Full Size) and the M/23 (Half Size). I’d love some advice, especially from artists who are on the smaller side.
The Context:
• The Artist: She is petite (162cm / 5'4" and 46kg / 101lbs).
• No Studio: She currently has no dedicated easel at home, so this will be her primary workstation indoors, as well as her plein air gear.
• Transportation: We have a car, and I’m usually there to help her carry the gear from the car to the spot.
My Logic (The Redundancy Problem):
If I were buying this for myself, I’d choose the M/22 without hesitation, but I’m significantly larger than she is. My concern is that the M/23 (Half Size) might eventually become redundant. It feels like a 'middle-ground' compromise: it lacks the generous storage and mixing space of the full-size model for her home setup, yet it’s still not as truly portable as a Pochade box. If we add a Pochade to her kit later, the M/23 would be stuck in an awkward middle, not as comfortable as the M/22 for the studio, and not as light as the Pochade for travel.
The Concern:
I’m worried that despite the M/22 being the better "long-term" investment, it might just be physically overwhelming for her. Carrying it by the handle seems impossible at her height (it’ll hit her legs), and I can't find a backpack harness (like the Mabef MA-10) in stock anywhere.
Questions for the community:
Storage: I don’t paint myself, so I have a hard time visualizing the volume. Is the smaller drawer and palette space on the M/23 frustrating to work with? Can you actually fit a "full" setup inside, or is it a struggle?
Management: If you are petite, is the M/22 manageable for short distances (car to spot) if you have a good strap or bag?
Redundancy: Does my "redundancy" theory about the M/23 make sense? Is the M/23 just a "middle ground" that ends up being frustrating for both home and travel?
Backpack Solutions: Are there any currently available backpack straps or bags that fit the M/22 well so she can be independent when I'm not there to help?
Personal Preference: If you had to choose one as a primary home easel that occasionally goes outside, which would you pick?
I want this to be a professional-level gift she can use for years, but I don't want to buy her something she’s physically afraid to move. Thanks for your help!