Is it bad to draw flat on the table?

[tn100]

I usually draw pictures flat on the table. I heard that the best way to draw is by having your paper be standing in front of you. What's an easy way to do this and why is it better? It just seems inconvenient sometimes because I usually have markers to color with on the table and I could just reach over or maybe use a ruler flat on the table... how are you suppose to do perspective drawing with t square and rules when its standing?

[Jason Rainville]

Off the top of my head (and from personal experience) if your drawing material isn't facing you directly (IE you're not hovering right over top of your sketchbook) then whatever you're drawing will become slightly skewed since the top bit is further away from you. My recent SP is a victim of such a thing.

Now I make sure to stoop right over my paper, esuring no skewage and future back problems.

[VulgarDragon]

That's what drawing tables are for.

[Ilaekae]

It's the biggest cause of skewing your drawings up to the right (if you're right-handed). Get a nice little drawing board (cheap) and sit it in your lap against the table. If you have to do anything mechanical like perspective or other shit like that, just lay it down on the table flat.

[Meloncov]

If your working large, you'll have more control if your working vertically because you can draw from the shoulder, not just wrist and elbow. For smaller pieces this is less important.

[CCThrom]

Long ago I liked to draw flat on the table/desk... but I found that particularly with figure drawing & portraits I always ended up with heads waaay too small. If you don't like working on an easel (I don't) you should at least try a drawing board with some tilt.