Interesting. I've never really painted with an easel. I paint with my kids sometimes with acrylic and watercolor but it's not the same thing. The kids are the artist and I'm just watching them keeping busy ('cause when they are done, and I'm not, I still have to stop). But, honestly, I am not very good at painting but I'm trying to learn. I'm just scared of paint and all those colors. They are supposed to blend together and all but for some reason, I'm afraid to blend them. I think I've had some bad experiences with blending the wrong colors and having it look horrible. I'm currently taking an online class on color theory using acrylic paints and matte medium so we'll see how it goes.
True...paper and pencil can never be replaced. When I use pencil and paper, I'm relaxed. I have no cares about anything but what I'm sketching. When I paint, I get nervous...so nervous that I find myself coming on PH so I don't have to think about it or play with the paints...LOL!