I recently made an investment that will hopefully transform my painting process. After years of painting hunched over at my table, I finally found the perfect solution to address the strain on my back and neck – a new table easel. I had been on the lookout for one of these for a while, driven by the need to improve my posture and preserve the health of my back and neck.
What surprised me the most was the size of the easel. I opted for the medium size to encourage myself to work on larger paper. Painting larger works had always been a desire, but it was challenging on a flat surface. With the new easel, I could create larger pieces more comfortably, fostering creativity and allowing me to paint for longer periods without discomfort. I'm particularly excited about the possibility of finally completing an 18x24 piece that has been collecting dust since April. The thought of using my old standing easel for it was a deterrent, but with this new one, I can't wait to see what comes about.
Transitioning to the new easel presented a learning curve. I was accustomed to painting flat and didn't have the larger paper I needed. So, I resorted to taping my paper to the board, reminiscent of my undergraduate days when I did a lot of drawing. It's been a journey of adaptation and rediscovery, but it's a change I wholeheartedly welcome. These self portrait sketches came from the headshots session I mentioned in the blog post at the end of August.
I was also to start a painting as well. I taped it to a wood panel. The process was very smooth and I had a lot of fun. And most importantly, it did wonders for my back. While my chronic illness can sometimes make painting challenging, this new table easel has made a significant difference in my creative process. It's a testament to the impact that the right tools can have on an artist's work. I look forward to sharing more about my journey, including a little speed paint on this easel, in my upcoming September studio vlog.
Here's a sneak peek before I added the highlightsand deepened the shadows!
Thanks for reading and I'll catch you in the next one
--Sunday🌷
Comments