Using A Mahl Stick For Extra Painting Control
The mahl stick is a traditional tool for painting that helps the user to keep a steady hand while they paint. It's very handy for creating areas of detail that require precision and control. I find that a tool like this becomes valuable when doing long sessions of detail work. In my experience I have reached the point, in these long sessions of pain-staking work, where I have had to hold the wrist of my painting hand with my other hand to keep it more steady. Granted I do go crazy for coffee when I have a deadline though....
The mahl stick is designed to lean on the edge of the painting so that the user can rest his/her wrist against it while making a series of detailed marks, or any kind of marks that require control. By leaning on this stick the user can also avoid smudging areas that are wet or smudgable.
This stick can easily be made from some scrap materials or you can purchase a super nice one here at this website: http://cdn.dickblick.com/items/556/86/55686-1001-2-3ww-l.jpg . I love simple technology like this : )
