Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hello!
I posted my work here for a little bit since I picked up on the hobby, love it a lot.
A problem I have is shaky hands. Its hard to paint or higlight anything without being scared, or actually messing up anything..
Does anyone else have a similar problem? Any ways you work around it or fixd it?

I do not know the cause of my shakes, but I have anxiety problems and medication to help it. So im guessing one of the reasons might be that.

Have a great day everyone!

I think shaking hands while painting is a fairly common issue, but it is exacerbated if you have issues like yours, or if you have arthritis like me.

Perhaps try to stabilize your hands while painting? I brace my elbows against the table when painting, and occasionally rest the brush handle against my lips or tongue.

I've managed to minimize my shaking that way.

gohkm wrote:
I think shaking hands while painting is a fairly common issue, but it is exacerbated if you have issues like yours, or if you have arthritis like me.

Perhaps try to stabilize your hands while painting? I brace my elbows against the table when painting, and occasionally rest the brush handle against my lips or tongue.

I've managed to minimize my shaking that way.

Yeah, I have a friend who has epilepsy, and his medication make him shake so much its a lost cause trying to sit down and paint anything.
I already rest my hands/ elbows the most I can but the bruh in the mouth is a really great idea, ill have to try it out!
Thanks!

I have as the doctors described it benign tremors. I have found bracing both my hands on my desk works wonders also using my pinky to brace my brush hand against the model when I'm trying to do fine details.
Another thing is make shure you've eaten something, sounds silly, but I know my tremors are worse if I have a low blood sugar.

Hope this helps.

 cuss wrote:
I have as the doctors described it benign tremors. I have found bracing both my hands on my desk works wonders also using my pinky to brace my brush hand against the model when I'm trying to do fine details.
Another thing is make shure you've eaten something, sounds silly, but I know my tremors are worse if I have a low blood sugar.

Hope this helps.

It does! thank you!

I find when my hands shake I just brace my wrists as best as possible against the table or somehow lock my fingers together. Just keep practicing, eventually you'll find something that works and then your shaking may even gradually reduce altogether.

Use the foam that comes in the blisterpacks as a shock absorber.

Place it on the table, place the sides of your hands on the foam.

Also, along with the blood sugar advice, monitor your caffeine intake. That can really affect some people.

Other suggestions would be to make sure to take short breaks during painting, and to try breath control. I don't have much problem with shaky hands, but when I am doing very fine detail work, I need to be very conscious of my breathing. I tend to hold my breath, which doesn't help. Instead, I take a deep breath and let it out. Painting during the exhale and immediately after is often much more controlled.

It's clear that your concern about your shaking is also making you stressed. It's never a good idea to paint when you are tired or stressed out. For one thing, it's supposed to be an enjoyable hobby. You might try starting with some terrain or scenery, where fine control isn't as important, or some vehicles, where there are a lot of large flat areas to paint. Once you build up your confidence and comfort level, then move to more challenging/more important stuff. I know that when I am working on a new project/color scheme, I start on stuff that isn't my focus. I don't paint my character models or my centerpieces first. I start with the stuff that's not going to be scrutinized.

Finally, remember that you can always go back and paint more detail, but it's hard to remove detail easily. Feel free to get the basic colors on a lot of models, before going on to do small details and highlights/washes/blends/fancy stuff on ANY of them. An entire force painted to a basic color scheme looks way more impressive and cool on the table than 5 amazing models and 45 with primer.

Good luck, and good gaming!

Da Butcha wrote:
Also, along with the blood sugar advice, monitor your caffeine intake. That can really affect some people.

Other suggestions would be to make sure to take short breaks during painting, and to try breath control. I don't have much problem with shaky hands, but when I am doing very fine detail work, I need to be very conscious of my breathing. I tend to hold my breath, which doesn't help. Instead, I take a deep breath and let it out. Painting during the exhale and immediately after is often much more controlled.

It's clear that your concern about your shaking is also making you stressed. It's never a good idea to paint when you are tired or stressed out. For one thing, it's supposed to be an enjoyable hobby. You might try starting with some terrain or scenery, where fine control isn't as important, or some vehicles, where there are a lot of large flat areas to paint. Once you build up your confidence and comfort level, then move to more challenging/more important stuff. I know that when I am working on a new project/color scheme, I start on stuff that isn't my focus. I don't paint my character models or my centerpieces first. I start with the stuff that's not going to be scrutinized.

Finally, remember that you can always go back and paint more detail, but it's hard to remove detail easily. Feel free to get the basic colors on a lot of models, before going on to do small details and highlights/washes/blends/fancy stuff on ANY of them. An entire force painted to a basic color scheme looks way more impressive and cool on the table than 5 amazing models and 45 with primer.

Good luck, and good gaming!

Thanks for the advices! I dont drink coffee anymore but tea does seem to affect it negatively, so i try and cut down on that.
And thats almost always now i do things as well! I basecoat the different areas, than ill pick on model, do all the detailled work and hop to the next one.

I will hold my hands close together, either wrists touching, so model in one hand, brush on other, or hold the model in one hand, and the hand with the brush is touching the model base by pinky, ring, or both fingers. That way any shakes are mutual across both hands, thereby. Reducing the shake. Also experiment with different postures, remember to get up once Ina awhile and stretch hands no fingers too. Deep muscle pains are not felt till much much much much later, despite the fact tha it may be causing muscles to contract differently. Causing your shaking... Ie, arm cramp. Back cramp. Shoulder cramp etc.