A Sheep's Hook

[Leopoldo1]

I have really enjoyed the use of my walking cane I bought recently for using as a mahl stick to steady the hand in painting. This unique idea came about after watching a Richard Schmid video where he just hung his cane over the support.

I am attempting a much larger painting of my dog ascending into heaven with angel wings and I was trying to figure out a good way to lengthen the walking cane or make a longer mahl type stick. Well today, after walking into our local farm store to get some supplies, I noticed this sheep hook for sale. Well you guys can figure it out with the photo below, it will work just perfectly....L

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Mar-2002/sheephook.jpg

[paintfool]

Brilliant! :) I too use a cane for a mahl stick. I'll have to remember this when i go large!
Cheryl

[Davena]

You really have some neat tips. Thanks!

[4vincent]

ditto on the cane here too...although I don't work that large, I'll keep the sheep's hook in mind...

One other "midget mahl stick" I keep in my sketch box is a discarded telescoping phone antenna with a rubber tip. Works okay when you need that steady application and nothing's available. Ken

[Leopoldo1]

Originally posted by 4vincent
One other "midget mahl stick" I keep in my sketch box is a discarded telescoping phone antenna with a rubber tip. Works okay when you need that steady application and nothing's available. Ken

Ooooo! thats a good one!

[owens1299]

what is a mahl stick?

[impressionist2]

Leopoldo and Cheryl, When I was a signman ( woman; person ) years ago, I never liked the mahl stick. All the other hand letterers ( yes, the old art before pc lettering) used them but I could never get the hang of it. It always seemed unweildy, trying to balance it and paint at the same time. Those fifteen years in the signbiz taught me to steady my hand and keep the heel of my hand off the painting surface. If worse comes to worst, I rest my hand on the edge of the canvas.

How do you use one with an easel? At least in the sign biz there is the 4' x 8' wooden support to rest the end of the stick on. Where are you two supporting the canes? On the edge of the canvas?

Has anyone tried he "bridge"? At least that sits by itself and I believe you can actually rest your arm on it, although I think the painting surface must be flat on a table to do so.

Leopoldo, Now, you are making me think about my deceased ( at 21 years) kitty, Samantha, and about creating a tribute to her. We have since adopted two rescued kitty brothers and I was thinking about painting all three together since I know she's still hanging around with them.

Renee

[paintfool]

I hook the curve of the cane over the edge of the canvas. Usually somewhere along the top, and angle it as neccesary. My next easel will have the built in mahl stick supports on the sides.
Cheryl

[Leopoldo1]

There is always a use for support, how ever that materializes, family support, friend support or even a mahl stick to support your hand when you drop in those poached eyes in that portrait!........L

[Leopoldo1]

Originally posted by impressionist2
Leopoldo, Now, you are making me think about my deceased ( at 21 years) kitty, Samantha, and about creating a tribute to her. We have since adopted two rescued kitty brothers and I was thinking about painting all three together since I know she's still hanging around with them.Renee

Good for you! I love my little pussy, even the other two new ones I call the evil sisters, like those characters in "Lady and Tramp". Animals that are around me, help me build a more defined character, a different compassion, a lesson about sharing and needs, other than my own selfish ways in my older age!...L

[sassybird]

I have seen mahl sticks in catelogs, and just looking at them and the prices...lol I ended up making one out of a 1/4" and 1/2" dowel rods cut to size, and just tying a little leather sand bag around one end. The cane idea is a great idea though for working at an easel. Getting older I find my hand is not as steady as it used to be.

[owens1299]

can someone tell me what a mahl stick is? pretty please...

[impressionist2]

Cheryl, That's a neat idea hooking the cane on the top of the canvas. I work on an EZ-Go easel, the lightest weight easel there is. The only support at the top is a thin piece of aluminum that clips the canvas, so support is tentative at best.

You wrote: "My next easel will have the built in
mahl stick supports on the sides."

Manufacturer and model name, please? Is it a large easel? I need one of those monsters and a great studio with skylights to keep it in. ;)

Sassybird, Really? I had no idea they are expensive.

Owens, Just type in "Mahl Stick" on a google search. 7,000 site will come up that sell them. It's basically a dowel like stick to rest the heel of your hand on so you don't go "Schmearing" your paint up.

Leopoldo, Our two kitty brothers are SO different. Gizmo is the kind of cat ( at 20 lb.) that you could pick up by the tail and he'd just lick your hand. The other one, "Mr. Wooley" took us a year to stop him from biting. My niece calls him "The Evil". Now, he's a big ol' demanding lap cat, but as my husband says, "Watch your hand. He still has fangs". :D Their favorite thing that starts them rolling over like crazy is when I call them "good boys" ( even if I only mean it for one of them!! Hah!)

Renee

[Leopoldo1]

Originally posted by owens1299
can someone tell me what a mahl stick is? pretty please...

Shannon it is the red stick below. This one is store bought, but they can be easily made or improvised from different material. Basically, it is a stick with a padded end that is placed on the canvas to support your painting hand. If you are right handed you hold the stick with your left hand supporting it against the support.......L

[Leopoldo1]

Originally posted by impressionist2
Leopoldo, Our two kitty brothers are SO different. Gizmo is the kind of cat ( at 20 lb.) that you could pick up by the tail and he'd just lick your hand. The other one, "Mr. Wooley" took us a year to stop him from biting. My niece calls him "The Evil". Now, he's a big ol' demanding lap cat, but as my husband says, "Watch your hand. He still has fangs". :D Their favorite thing that starts them rolling over like crazy is when I call them "good boys" ( even if I only mean it for one of them!! Hah!)

Renee, the expression "strange cats" certainly fits it's deravitive! Marbella the petite little queen of the house, wins her authority not only with age, but with her gentleness. That "strange cat" catches critters like birds and mice, brings them into the house so I can approve, drops them into my hand and then I hit them with a sludge hammer. Just kidding I release them! ........L

[artlover57]

I have always used a Mahl's stick due to tremors I have in my hands. I didn't even know it was a real thing with a term for it until after I had started doing it. I have used a wooden dowel at times. They can be obtained from your local hardware store in various sizes for next to nothing.

One thing I have used that I really prefer is the cafe rod like you use for curtains, that comes with a magnetic set of holders. I have had a sheet of metal that fits under my easel area for support, and I attach that rod with magnetic holders to wherever I need it to be.

[nit-wit]

I just grab the nearest thing to me that resembles a mahl stick. Stretcher bar, paint brush, broom handle, even my left arm. All work fine for me.

Andrew