If you're having problems holding your hand steady enough to paint detail or a smooth result, you can use a mahl stick to help yourself. But if you don't have one hand (and, let's face it, most of us don't), or storage space is a real issue, painter (and forum regular) Gerald Dextraze has a simple and effective solution -- use your other arm.It's a painting technique that works regardless of which hand you're holding a brush in. He shows how in these photos...
See Also: What is a Mahl Stick?
Image: © Gerald Dextraze
Comments
Cool, great idea. I use a cane as a mahl stick, you can hook it over your canvas and easel and let it hang when not in use. I got the idea from a Richard Schmid tutorial that I saw online.
I sometimes use another brush as a (short) mahl stick. It’s always on hand! I also have a piece of oak trim that I’ve smoothed off and use as a mahl stick. I don’t see any point in paying out for a fancy accessory when a simple solution works perfectly well.