Making a fine line across a wet passage can be tricky as your hand has no place to rest, Using a Mahl stick gives you another point of support, It won’t guarantee perfect results but it can help a lot with details, The slightest movement can change the shape of a line or make a highlight blurry.

Key Takeaways

• Using a mahl stick can really help you control the lines in your painting.
• A mahl stick that is suited for a table may not work well with a freestanding easel.
• Keep the resting end of the mahl stick away from wet paint or it will ruin your painting.
• A simple mahl stick can be made from scratch if it won’t slip or scrape.
• Rest the support point on a dry and stable area and use the stick to support your hand when holding the painting.

How the Support Point Helps

With the stick resting in a steady position you can guide a tool (brush) with your hand over a surface without laying your fingers on the surface. The stick helps to maintain steady and repeated stroke of the brush. This can be used for painting narrow contours adding small highlights or sharpening edges.

The support point is just as important as the part that is held. Resting the stick on a dry edge of an easel or some other stable area can help the stick serve its purpose. If the area where the stick is resting offers no clear and firm edge the stick will serve no purpose and will get in the way.

Artists who use a mahl stick often need to maintain a steady hand for fine brushstrokes especially for brushwork that involves holding the hand over fresh paint. Using a mahl stick can also be helpful for fine line drawings to avoid getting the hand soiled with graphite from the work.

As an artist hand support the mahl stick is completely optional. It can help if you are painting at a surface with a bad angle. It can also help if you tend to hunch forward while you paint. One thing to note is that a tool that works at one easel may not work at all at another. Part of the tool is positioning.

Where you set the stick and how it rests is the most important thing to consider when using a mahl stick.

How to Use a Mahl Stick Without Smearing Paint

Rest the stick on a dry stable area that is clear of wet paint and use it to support your hand as you paint. Be sure to keep the resting area clear of wet paint as the stick can smear paint as you lean on it.

• A good resting area is clear of wet paint.
• Hold the stick comfortably. Don’t lock your wrist.
• Don’t press down with your hand. Keep it lightly resting on the stick.
• Work in the area you can reach without stretching or changing your balance.
• Reposition the stick before reaching across a wet passage.

Don’t use the support to pin your arm instead let the support help you with the movement. If the movement of your arm pulls the stick away stop and reset it before continuing.

Move the Stick as the Painting Changes

How Do the Designs of Mahal Sticks Relate to Your Painting Setup?

For support points to work they must remain stable and not obstruct your brush. An edge for a hook must be secure. A clamp must find a support it can grip. Where the support is placed and how it’s positioned relative to the work will influence how easy it is to use.

Support point designs are best addressed at the beginning or end of a painting session when the brush is less likely to be obstructed. Support points that engage the canvas or surface may also affect how easy it is to use.

• Design
• How it rests
• Useful setup
• Check before use
• Straight-ended
• End rests against a stable edge
• Table easel with a clear ledge
• Edge is firm and stick will not slide
• Hook-ended
• Hook catches on a suitable edge
• Support with an accessible lip or rail
• Edge fits hook and holds it securely
• Clamp-mounted
• Clamp attaches to a compatible support
• Easel or support the clamp can grip

Clamp fits firmly without obstructing space

A straight-ended stick is easy to position against an edge but it may slip if the edge is too narrow or too smooth. A hook would give a better catch only if the edge has the right shape. A clamp-mounted design may let the support stay attached to a compatible edge but the attachment must be such that your brush and hand can clear the edge.

Consider your angle of painting and the clear space around the surface you are painting on. Designs that allow you to access the working area without going over or near wet paint may be preferable, Test the ease and fit against the support you use, A simple hand rest or support can be made or improvised for your easel.

Can You Make a DIY Hand Rest or Use an Alternative?

A makeshift hand rest can be made from a lightweight rigid rod or dowel with a soft covering on the end that rests against the support. A makeshift mahl stick should be long enough to avoid having to stretch to use it and have a soft and comfortable surface to hold on to.

Improvised supports can be dangerous to use if they can touch or cross wet paint or if they can slip and scratch the painting. Use an end covering that is soft and will not scratch the support. Any hook or attachment to the support must be firmly secured.

Makeshift supports can be used if they are firmly secured and will not touch wet paint or scratch the support.

Make a Simple Mahl Stick

A good place to start for making a simple makeshift painting support is using a straight lightweight rigid rod or dowel. The end of the support that rests on the easel should have a covering of some soft material. The covering should stay in place and not shed fibers or residue.

Keep the support uncomplicated. If an attachment or hook is used it should be secured firmly. Check your support against a dry surface to check for condition and to avoid getting residue on a fresh paint surface.

Alternative Supports

Find a rigid clean and supporting edge to rest a mahl stick.

Use a nearby dry area to rest your hand if it can safely take the load.

Work in smaller sections and rest your hand between strokes.

Each of these alternatives will depend on the surface and position of the artist. A nearby dry area may be convenient but only if your hand can rest there without touching the painting and straining your wrist. If the rod shifts when you make a light stroke stop and find a steadier arrangement.

Choose the easiest most stable option to suit your position and the surface in front of you. Often the simplest option is to use the easel in its intended way. It may also be reasonable to use a different more stable supporting point.

Conclusion

A mahl stick is an optional hand support and is most useful when your setup gives it a stable clean place to rest. Keep the support point away from wet paint and choose a ready-made or homemade support based on what easel or other support you are using.

Prior to using near fresh paint test the position on a dry setup. Gently move the option a few times and ensure it does not slide scratch or cause your hand to be in an awkward position. Use the option that gives you the most stability in the actual paint position.

FAQ

Who would use a mahl stick?

You would use a mahl stick for added hand stability when doing detailed painting or drawing. It is not a required piece of equipment and is useful only when a stable resting point for the stick is available outside the wet paint. If your surface does not give the stick a stable resting point then it is more of a bother than help.

What materials are needed for hand painting?

For hand painting you will need a surface to paint on some paints a brush and a palette. Other things you may need are water or other mediums based on your paints and the technique you are using. A mahl stick is an optional piece of equipment for hand stability for detail work and is not something you would need for basic painting.

Do paint sticks work?

A mahl stick provides hand support by steadying your working hand when the support point rests on a stable area outside wet paint. It doesn’t provide absolute control and a long sliding unstable support may actually obstruct detailed work. Make sure the stick aids your stroke and try the placement on a dry support first.

What to use in place of a paint stick?

For hand support you can use the edge of a rigid easel or a clean rigid and stable support with a soft end a bit like a mahl stick. You can also work in smaller sections and lift your hand between each stroke. For control avoid any option that can touch the wet paint since an unstable support can cause smears.

How can I make a DIY paint stick?

If you mean making a DIY mahl stick use a rigid lightweight rod or dowel and cover the support with a soft material to avoid marking the support, A DIY mahl stick is different from a paint-stirring stick used to support your hand.