Easels are objects in The Sims, The Sims 2, and The Sims 3. They build Fun, and allow Sims to make money by selling their paintings. In The Sims and The Sims 2, painting at an easel builds the Creativity skill, and in The Sims 3, it builds the painting skill.
The Sims
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All Sims love to paint, especially those who wish to improve their creativity. Unleash the right side of the brain with this lightweight, folding easel. Made of oiled beechwood, this portable model can be deployed indoors or outdoors.
In The Sims, the easel is called the "Dimanche" Folding Easel, though it does not actually fold. (In keeping with the artsy theme of this easel, "Dimanche" means "Sunday" in French.) The paintings made on it are not separate from it, and cannot be removed from it. A finished painting can be sold by clicking on it. A partially finished painting cannot be scrapped, but the easel can be sold with a partially finished painting on it. Regardless of who started a partially finished painting, any Sim can continue it, and may do so autonomously.
It can be used by children, but the painting they produce will be childish.
The Sims 2
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All Sims love to paint, and with an Independent Expressions easel, painting is a snap. This "blank canvas" is sturdy enough for use indoors or out, and blank enough to allow even the most independent creativity to blossom and grow.
In The Sims 2, the easel is called the Independent Expressions Inc. Easel. It costs §100 more than its counterpart in The Sims, but is considerably improved. With the Independent Expressions Easel, only the Sim who started a painting can continue it, though any Sim can scrap an unfinished painting. (Sims will not scrap paintings autonomously.) The player can click on a finished painting to sell it, or use the hand tool in Buy mode to remove it from the easel and place it on a wall. The Sim who painted the painting does not have to be the one to sell it. Completing a painting builds the hidden painting skill, which increases the sale price of future paintings by that Sim.
If a Sim has at least five points of Creativity skill, he or she can paint a still life or portrait. The Pets expansion pack added the ability for Sims with at least five points of Creativity skill to paint custom paintings from images on the player's computer, as long as they have the same dimensions as the easel's canvas. If FreeTime is installed, the easel also builds enthusiasm for the Arts and Crafts hobby.
Since children, and even toddlers, can gain Creativity skill in The Sims 2, the quality of a child's paintings will depend on his or her skill level, just as with adults.
A Sim may have a want to "Sell a Masterpiece", which is fulfilled if the painting sells for over §500, or a fear of selling a lousy painting, which is fulfilled if the painting sells for under §100. These wants and fears are only fulfilled if the painting is sold off the easel; they are not fulfilled if the painting is placed on a wall and sold in Buy mode. The first time a Sim sells a masterpiece, he or she will receive a positive memory. A Sim who has just sold a masterpiece will often receive a minor want to quit his or her job. With FreeTime, Sims who have started to build Arts and Crafts enthusiasm may roll the fear of selling a lousy painting before they have gained enough skill to sell paintings for more than §100.
An easel with a partially-finished painting can be placed in a Sim's inventory. The painting can be finished at a later time. However, if the Sim who has the easel in their inventory moves to a different lot, the easel will "forget" who started the painting, and the painting will have to be scrapped.
The Sims 3
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From pointillism to post-modernism, perhaps even paint by numbers, everyone with the urge to paint can dip a brush into their creative side with the Artsy Easel. For a limited time only, buy now to receive a lifetime supply of canvases and paint!
In The Sims 3, the easel is called the Artsy Easel. Only the Sim who started a painting can continue it, though any Sim can scrap a painting. (Sims will not scrap paintings autonomously.) Sims can't however use easels on any lot but their own. Sims can paint in three different sizes - small, medium and large. With higher skill levels, Sims can paint still life or portraits. They can even memorize a scene to paint it later, and do stylized still lifes.
With The Sims 3: World Adventures, Sims can make a painting from a photograph if their skill level is high enough.
Anyone from child to elder can paint, and improve their painting skill. There are also three toddler books that help give a head start to the painting skill when read.
The Sims 3: Store
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The Sims 3 Store offers one additional easel which is effectively just a reskinned Artsy Easel. It is more elegantly shaped than the blocky, school-roomesque Artsy Easel.