Abstract: An adjustable and adaptable artist's easel for holding a canvas includes an upper stand. The upper stand includes a planar frame having opposed sides, a front, a back, a top, and a bottom. This upper stand also includes a canvas support on the front of the frame, a top clamp, and a clamp adjusting device for adjustably mounting the top clamp on the front of the frame for movement toward and away from the canvas support and for locking the top clamp in an adjusted position relative to the canvas support with the canvas clamped therebetween and on the front. This upper stand further includes a pair back legs having a free end, a back leg pivot for pivotally mounting the back legs to the frame, and a back leg locking device for adjustably locking the back legs with the free ends spaced from the planar frame such that the upper stand is capable of standing in an upright position and hence for being used on a table top or the like.