Please share---bare trees

[Marc Hanson]

That's a great, informative thread Larry. Nicely done.

One of the things that I'm always dealing with, and probably others do too, is the issue of trying to make a stroke that hits the right spot, has the right pressure, leaves the right amount of paint(or pastel), creates the correct edges, goes in the right direction(important when painting a tree limb), and starts and stops where I want it to.

Painting the trees in winter make this a critical issue. If you need a sensitive touch, a sudden chilled shuddering of the arm is bad news.

In July, this isn't as big a problem as long as I've only had a single morning coffee. But in the freezing winter and spring conditions it is.

So as a New Years resolution, I've decided to come up with the perfect hand/arm support for keeping 'old shaky' at bay, and to use it. I use a cane in the studio, but I'm on the prowl for a collapsable, light weight mahl stick. My first thought is to buy a short piece (butt end) of a graphite fishing rod blank. Maybe a sawed off ski pole, aluminum(like that stuff), or fiberglass or graphite...anyone have a brilliant solution?

[LarrySeiler]

Originally Posted by paintbox1

So as a New Years resolution, I've decided to come up with the perfect hand/arm support for keeping 'old shaky' at bay, and to use it. I use a cane in the studio, but I'm on the prowl for a collapsable, light weight mahl stick. My first thought is to buy a short piece (butt end) of a graphite fishing rod blank. Maybe a sawed off ski pole, aluminum(like that stuff), or fiberglass or graphite...anyone have a brilliant solution?

I know whatcha mean about that!

I have a couple old iron wood walking sticks I've carved from the past that I'll use from time to time, but I did find strong collapsable hiking sticks out with rigid hand grips that are very very nice. I was checkin' 'em out in a Kmart or Target store once, about the $30 range or so. Dropped a hint to my wife back then, but she obviously forgot about it! hahaha... (guess I'll have to buy myself another belated Christmas present)....

Larry

[jimb]

Originally Posted by paintbox1

That's a great, informative thread Larry. Nicely done.

One of the things that I'm always dealing with, and probably others do too, is the issue of trying to make a stroke that hits the right spot, has the right pressure, leaves the right amount of paint(or pastel), creates the correct edges, goes in the right direction(important when painting a tree limb), and starts and stops where I want it to.

Painting the trees in winter make this a critical issue. If you need a sensitive touch, a sudden chilled shuddering of the arm is bad news.

In July, this isn't as big a problem as long as I've only had a single morning coffee. But in the freezing winter and spring conditions it is.

So as a New Years resolution, I've decided to come up with the perfect hand/arm support for keeping 'old shaky' at bay, and to use it. I use a cane in the studio, but I'm on the prowl for a collapsable, light weight mahl stick. My first thought is to buy a short piece (butt end) of a graphite fishing rod blank. Maybe a sawed off ski pole, aluminum(like that stuff), or fiberglass or graphite...anyone have a brilliant solution?

Here's what I've come up with...
I just took a piece of 1/2 inch dowel (available at the local home depot) cut it to a length that fits inside my french easel tray and then taped some paper towel on one end. I finished it by covering the soft end with a small cloth bag that had drawstrings. It works and it's cheap. It's only about half the length of my studio mahl stick, but since I'm pretty much only working on 9x12 panels it works out really well.
Jim

[m r pacitti]

Originally Posted by paintbox1

So as a New Years resolution, I've decided to come up with the perfect hand/arm support for keeping 'old shaky' at bay, and to use it. I use a cane in the studio, but I'm on the prowl for a collapsable, light weight mahl stick. My first thought is to buy a short piece (butt end) of a graphite fishing rod blank. Maybe a sawed off ski pole, aluminum(like that stuff), or fiberglass or graphite...anyone have a brilliant solution?

How about an old car antenna????? Mike

[JamieWG]

Thank you so much, everybody who's posted their winter trees. That's a big help and will give me lots of food for thought as I window-paint!

Everybody, please rate this thread if you've found it helpful, and we can move it later to the Hall of Fame.

Larry, I love your idea of the telescoping walking sticks. 'Might help in arriving at the location too!

Mike, stay away from my car!

Jamie

[Marc Hanson]

Originally Posted by m r pacitti

How about an old car antenna????? Mike

He he...Mike I occassionally hold things in my mouth. Would the antenna freeze to my lips and tongue at...oh say...20 degrees??? Just wondering.

[Marc Hanson]

Originally Posted by jimb

Here's what I've come up with...
I just took a piece of 1/2 inch dowel (available at the local home depot) cut it to a length that fits inside my french easel tray and then taped some paper towel on one end. I finished it by covering the soft end with a small cloth bag that had drawstrings. It works and it's cheap. It's only about half the length of my studio mahl stick, but since I'm pretty much only working on 9x12 panels it works out really well.
Jim

See, all it takes is a brain!!! I'd probably leave off the end bag and just rest it on top of the panel, but yes, this is a simple(and cheap) solution.

But I do like the idea of a folding walking stick too, have to check that one out. May need that just to get around soon anyway!!!

[coh]

I've used the "dowel mahlstick" for several years and it works very well.
As Marc suggested, I just rest it against an edge of the painting, I don't
use the cloth bag arrangement.

When I saw Schmid's video I was impressed by his use of the cane as a
mahlstick...he would just let it hang off the top edge of the painting where
it was always available. I've been meaning to rig up something like that
but haven't gotten around to it.

I'd like to add my thanks to everyone for their suggestions and pictures of
how to paint the leafless trees...definitely worth studying.

Chris

[Lorijo]

My mahl stick is bamboo out of the back yard, its about the diameter of a pencil. I rolled up a piece of t-shirt into a ball for the end and then put a square piece of the shirt over that and tied it and trimmed it off. The bamboo is nice and light weight.

Great directions on bare trees! Lori

[Marc Hanson]

Originally Posted by Lorijo

My mahl stick is bamboo out of the back yard, its about the diameter of a pencil. I rolled up a piece of t-shirt into a ball for the end and then put a square piece of the shirt over that and tied it and trimmed it off. The bamboo is nice and light weight.

Great directions on bare trees! Lori

I'm heading out to the back yard...let's see................well, my foot froze....but no bamboo! Dang!!!

I'll have to head to Michael's Craft and buy a cane of it. That's an improvement to the dowel and car antenna, lighter weight and not going to freeze to my lips or hands. This is getting good.Thanks.

[JamieWG]

Originally Posted by paintbox1

I'll have to head to Michael's Craft and buy a cane of it.........

<Somebody's got cabin fever....>

[Phyllis Rennie]

Thank you, Marc, for sharing your images and advise about bare trees. I shall be reading it a few more times over the next few weeks and trying to put it to good use. I've unexpectedly gotten a few days off from work so if the weather is somewhat cooperative, I'll give it a whirl this week. Appreciate your generosity in sharing with us.

[Lorijo]

Gee Marc I would be glad to trade you a bamboo stick for a painting! Lori

[Robert]

Larry, Lori, Marc - thanks for sharing your thoughts, it was very generous. Good points regarding skyholes, Marc. I also generally see the sky color in skyholes a little darker in value than the rest of the sky, and often the tree mass surrounding the skyholes seems to be a little darker than the rest of the tree mass and, if I put on my glasses, there's usually more stuff in the holes - leaves, branches, etc. It's like the more you paint, the more there is to paint.

[vhere]

this is a WIP of winter trees - about 4ft 6in tall by about 15in - a bit more work to do to resolve it though

trees are lovely subjects aren't they?