Until today, my "art station" has been the weak, cheap drawing table I had in college--a particleboard catastrophe stacked with paint tubes, bottles, boxes, and trash. Palettes had to rest anywhere they could (such as on family room chairs!). Before:
I decided to invest money in my own career equipment, and very nearly chose the Best Shawn's Painting Station--a massive $3500 taboret with integrated easel, cabinets, and drawers. It's nice, but not quite what I wanted. For one thing, the integrated easel meant I'd have to face into the window sunlight for this to fit into my painting area. And it's LONG, and I don't have that much space. I'd rather have a taboret set to my right while I paint at a separate upright easel. While Googling "Taboret with paint storage," the very first result was a bullseye. A Better Taboret - Deluxe Studio Edition.
But the price! It's costly. For that investment, it had better be worth it.
I wrote to the inventor, Casey Childs, who is also a skilled oil painter. After spending weeks contemplating, I realized that A Better Taboret seemed to have every feature I've wanted. It's the one piece of studio furniture I'd forever regret passing up. So I placed my order, which arrived today (they're custom-made, so turnaround is about a month).
First, a note on delivery. It arrived in absolutely perfect condition on a wood palette, surrounded by bubble wrap, a layer of heavy cardboard, another layer of foam padding, and then wrapped in plastic secured with three heavy straps. Wheels are not attached at arrival, so it takes muscle to tip the taboret on its side to attach them. The wheels are VERY heavy-duty, and will last. Two have locking mechanisms to stabilize the taboret.
For the most part, no assembly is required. You can customize details such as the size and positions of paint tube slots in three drawers, but you don't have to fool with any hinges or joints--it arrives pretty much ready to use.
That's when you start to notice the details. I haven't found a single flaw in the whole thing. Every possible detail has been considered, and the taboret is made with precision--nothing seems rushed or corner-cut. The door hinges are top-quality, drawers have a sturdy gliding track, the wood is premium quality, and even the tabletop glass palette is grey-backed--a small touch that only a painter would have remembered (oil painters know that a neutral grey surface helps mix more accurate colors).
But the price! It's costly. For that investment, it had better be worth it.
I wrote to the inventor, Casey Childs, who is also a skilled oil painter. After spending weeks contemplating, I realized that A Better Taboret seemed to have every feature I've wanted. It's the one piece of studio furniture I'd forever regret passing up. So I placed my order, which arrived today (they're custom-made, so turnaround is about a month).
First, a note on delivery. It arrived in absolutely perfect condition on a wood palette, surrounded by bubble wrap, a layer of heavy cardboard, another layer of foam padding, and then wrapped in plastic secured with three heavy straps. Wheels are not attached at arrival, so it takes muscle to tip the taboret on its side to attach them. The wheels are VERY heavy-duty, and will last. Two have locking mechanisms to stabilize the taboret.
For the most part, no assembly is required. You can customize details such as the size and positions of paint tube slots in three drawers, but you don't have to fool with any hinges or joints--it arrives pretty much ready to use.
That's when you start to notice the details. I haven't found a single flaw in the whole thing. Every possible detail has been considered, and the taboret is made with precision--nothing seems rushed or corner-cut. The door hinges are top-quality, drawers have a sturdy gliding track, the wood is premium quality, and even the tabletop glass palette is grey-backed--a small touch that only a painter would have remembered (oil painters know that a neutral grey surface helps mix more accurate colors).
Top-quality hinges
A rolling panel conceals an interior trash can, which also has a sliding top hatch. This is genius!
You get three paint tube storage drawers, divided into sections like a printer's drawer. The wood rows and metal columns are adjustable, and are made with perfect precision--not the slightest bit of loose or offset imperfection.
An example of small details considered: pads inside drawers protect the wood. Small things like this could have been skipped and who'd notice? But NOTHING is left out.
In addition to a glass tabletop palette, you also get a HUGE slide-out tray for other palettes, reference images, computer, whatever. And look at that gorgeous spalted wood! The shelf gliders are strong and have an automatic "stop" so nothing will fall out or tip over.
This is awesome. There's a top panel that opens out to give you additional tabletop space, and beneath it are all sorts of compartments for brushes, bottles, etc. The taboret also includes two large fluid jars that fit flush into the top, and two small cups for liquin or glaze or whatever. When you're not painting, just fold the panel back over to protect your materials (and look clean). The open panel has a notched brush holder so that wet brushes can be organized. And note that the hinge is full-length, not a couple of small hinges. This is strong. You can set a laptop on it if you want, and it won't cause damage.
This notched edge runs the entire back length of the taboret, so there's no shortage of places to rest brushes during use. One more detail that a cheaper manufacturer could have skipped, but it just enhances the whole thing.
Three spacious shelves inside a cabinet for art books and supplies. Note the heavyweight hinge, not a "budget" hinge with a couple of cheap screws. I need to dust, sorry.
This is my art station now! Compare it to that first photo--what a difference!
Summary: this taboret is worth every penny. It's sturdy, made with expertise, beautiful, made in America, and designed by an artist to meet every conceivable need, and built by a skilled carpenter. You wont find anything comparable in any imported painting station.
Remember, equipment purchases for professional artists can be deducted as business expenses--so if you can budget for one, then don't hesitate. It will be impossible to find any disappointing attribute to this taboret.
Remember, equipment purchases for professional artists can be deducted as business expenses--so if you can budget for one, then don't hesitate. It will be impossible to find any disappointing attribute to this taboret.
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