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Whilest painting my cute little fire warriors today, I had an episode of shakey hands. I assure readers that im medicaly fine but I was wondering if people had sergestions for dealing with this interesting dilema. In other words, what do you do when you get shaky hads while trying to paint?

Ledabot wrote:Whilest painting my cute little fire warriors today, I had an episode of shakey hands. I assure readers that im medicaly fine but I was wondering if people had sergestions for dealing with this interesting dilema. In other words, what do you do when you get shaky hads while trying to paint?

Burn hella trees.

Of a couple of my mates, one drinks copious amounts of alcohol and the other chain smokes about 5 rollies.... don't do this :(

Usually if I have a little jiggle it's because I forgot to count the sppons of coffe I put in, so cutting down that always help, other than that just general hand exercises can help if the cause is in your hands, stress ball and the like. Otherwise the cause could be as simple as low blood sugar.

The next step is it could be an 'essential tremor' or a kenatic tremor. Which I think belive doctors can perscribe beta-blockers or another type of medication. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_tremor#Treatment

Too much caffiene or other stimulant will do this. Alternatively its a sign that your hands are tired. In either case its porbably best to go and do something else for a while until your hands have settled.

ChrisCP wrote:Of a couple of my mates, one drinks copious amounts of alcohol and the other chain smokes about 5 rollies.... don't do this :(

Usually if I have a little jiggle it's because I forgot to count the sppons of coffe I put in, so cutting down that always help, other than that just general hand exercises can help if the cause is in your hands, stress ball and the like. Otherwise the cause could be as simple as low blood sugar.

The next step is it could be an 'essential tremor' or a kenatic tremor. Which I think belive doctors can perscribe beta-blockers or another type of medication. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_tremor#Treatment

Flinty wrote:Too much caffiene or other stimulant will do this. Alternatively its a sign that your hands are tired. In either case its porbably best to go and do something else for a while until your hands have settled.

Of all these things, the most likely I can see is Flinty's second. I dont drink coffie due to observing my chemistry teachers horendus addition. He gets a new one almost as soon as the old ones finished. After typing up essays all day, my hands proberly do get a bit tired.

I think shaking may be caused by bad position while working. Try adjust your chair and try out different positions for your hands when you are working. And make sure your hands have as much support as possible. Rest them on the table when you are working.

I've never had problem with shakey hands so I don't know what would be the best solution.

I dont get shaky hands...if they are shaking, its generally because im either hopped up on caffeine or I just spent the last 30 min running around with my daughter. I do however, get a involuntary twitching thumb. Its only if I paint at a certain angle, my thumb starting convulsing very strangely, but I just change positions and it goes away. Thankfully its on my non-painting hand to.

ChrisCP wrote:Of a couple of my mates, one drinks copious amounts of alcohol and the other chain smokes about 5 rollies.... don't do this :(

Usually if I have a little jiggle it's because I forgot to count the sppons of coffe I put in, so cutting down that always help, other than that just general hand exercises can help if the cause is in your hands, stress ball and the like. Otherwise the cause could be as simple as low blood sugar.

The next step is it could be an 'essential tremor' or a kenatic tremor. Which I think belive doctors can perscribe beta-blockers or another type of medication. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_tremor#Treatment

I think valium and beta-blockers are a bit much for shaky hand problems. If you're just painting, and not about to go shoot someone with a sniper rifle, I'd say, keep the caffeine\sugar down and the carbs up.

Try propping your elbows up on your table (or whatever is serving as your painting surface) and then putting your wrists together. This serves three functions: it puts the model closer to eye-level, allows your fingers to do the work and also steadies your hands. Works for me, try it out.

I know it sounds strange, but eat a couple of bananas. It helps to calm the shakes. I can't remember what it is about the banana, but I used to date a musician and she told me it helps. I think it might have had something to do with the amount of potassium in bananas, so you could try just taking some sort of potassium supplement if you don't like bananas.

I find easiest way to steady my hands when painting is to grip the mini firmly round the base and then push my other hand with the brush in it against that one. works well for me oh and elbows rested on the desk.

I lay off the coffee lol.


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Calibanite Lion wrote:I find easiest way to steady my hands when painting is to grip the mini firmly round the base and then push my other hand with the brush in it against that one. works well for me oh and elbows rested on the desk.

Like muzzle control of a pistol, brace one hand with the other... I was taught that on my 9mm qualification course with the CF, and I now use it with painting. Helps a lot!

I definitely notice some twitches if I get really wired on caffine. One of the major reasons I can no longer drink coffee. :(

I shake perpetually. The degree varies, somewhat, but my hands are never really steady, nor have they ever been, so I've learned to cope. I have three main counters:

1) Brace as much as possible - arms on tables, painting hand on holding hand, free fingers on painting hand on model/holding hand, etc.

2) Paint in line with the shake - if painting a vertical stripe while your hands are shaking left-right, rotate the mini 90 degrees and your line won't look like a SoCal seismographic readout.

3) Don't attempt long strokes - if your hands shake violently, work around it if you can't overcome it. I do a split scheme on my marines, so I need lots of long, straight lines over uneven surfaces. Lots of short, overlapping strokes to extend the line gives me much more controllable results than foolishly attempting a few broad strokes, knowing damn well that I'll shake in the process.

No amount of booze, caffeine, sleep, exercise, etc. has fixed the problem for me, so I simply I focused on what I could change - my technique.

Calibanite Lion wrote:I find easiest way to steady my hands when painting is to grip the mini firmly round the base and then push my other hand with the brush in it against that one. works well for me oh and elbows rested on the desk.

This works for me too.

Exhale slowly and then paint whilst you have no breath.

It's supposedly the stillest your body can be... I hear snipers do it?

I get out the dry brush dude

Cool and thanks. while it doesent happen often, it is quite frustrating to suddenly have to deal with it.
Next time it happens, il probily just bace coat something big instead. doesent matter if spraying goes off a bit.

Henners91 wrote:Exhale slowly and then paint whilst you have no breath.

It's supposedly the stillest your body can be... I hear snipers do it?

I do this constantly. Best advice in the thread IMO.

Henners91 wrote:Exhale slowly and then paint whilst you have no breath.

It's supposedly the stillest your body can be... I hear snipers do it?

Yep, this is a rule for basic rifle marksmenship. However I'd just find something else to do if you have unusually 'shaky hands'. Base coating, basing, and basic assembly are relatively easy.

Henners91 wrote:Exhale slowly and then paint whilst you have no breath.

It's supposedly the stillest your body can be... I hear snipers do it?

exhale ahalf, then fire, exhale the rest


back on topic, instead of wresting your arm on something, rest your hand on something, or wrist!

Pause, and then do the stroke in a single confident line. Don't hesitate or try to go slowly. The idea is that a single stroke tends to be rather straight innately and you're not giving it time to wobble.

If you're working on something with an edge, use the side of the brush.

Curves? That's harder.

Well I go and eat something, but well I'm cheating since I know that it is a quite good sign that my blood sugar is to low again...

make sure your sober, well rested and chilled out. I sometimes can be slightly shakey, and I do what I do whilst playing guitar, when I'm playing guitar and using a plectrum I keep my little finger rested on the scratch plate to steady my hand abit, same applies with anything, put your little finger on the base to steady your hand so neither of your hands move independantly, could also help to rest the hand your holding the model with on your work surface, hope that makes sense and helps

Shaking comes from straining muscles, usually because your are compensating from an awkward position. Take wieght off of your arms by resting them on something, that way your using less muscles.

I hate it when my hands shake when I am doing the eyes of my guy!

Shaking hands are the bane of my existence, especially when painting miniatures, inking for a comic or just doing detail canvas painting work. Just don't drink energy drinks, cut down the caffeine by a whole lot, and you'll be fine. I guess.

My hands tend to shake alot while painting, even so I can still get some neat paintjobs (or so a few staff at my local GW have said and a few of the people i play against). I dont find theres a better cure for the shakes than listening to some relaxing music (in my case metal with a real fast beat), just do anything to help you relax no matter how wierd it might be.

Do note: What makes you relax for one thing can have a different effect E.g metal music helps me relax while painting but while playin Modern Warfare 2 it makes me want to run around quickly. So make sure you know you what effect you "relaxant" will have while you paint.

Ledabot wrote:Whilest painting my cute little fire warriors today, I had an episode of shakey hands. I assure readers that im medicaly fine but I was wondering if people had sergestions for dealing with this interesting dilema. In other words, what do you do when you get shaky hads while trying to paint?

Due to diabetes, I have [peripheral neuropathy. Because of this, I often have uncontrollable spasm, small one mind you, but still annoying. My index fingers will lock up too.

I began painting my first model in nine years today, which means the last time I painted I did not have diabetes. It happened today, and it was frustrating. But the only answer for me is patience. I wait till it subside- while doing do I clean my brushes and remix the paint. I just do tasks that aren't dependent upon a steady hand, which ironically is why I am typing this post now.

Some points, with some already mentioned:

1. Base the model on something you can grip with your hand. Piece of round wood or toilet roll filled with something.

2. Lean your hands, arms and mini as much as possible against the desk = less wobble.

3. The breathing can help. Take a breath, breath out slowly and hold it half way though. Do your brushing (few seconds) then breath the rest out.
NOTE: Dont breath all your air out then paint. This can cause blackouts.