Hand damage from rubbing

[Kvick]

Alright, so after one day I spent drawing for hours straight, which isn't my norm I usually take breaks. I realized soon after that in the edge of my hand, it felt like it was a kind of cramping/burning pain particularly around my pinky joint( the one connecting the finger to the hand) where I guess I apply the most pressure when I'm drawing.

I was just wondering if anyone else has seen/experienced this. I really can't draw or write for that matter anymore unless I have something to block my hand and whatever surface im drawing on. Also wondering if there'd be any better remedy than changing my hand position so I don't rest mostly on the joint, it's pretty hard to find a new position to draw in, especially for using a tablet.

[Grief]

yeah sometimes my hands and wrists start to ache if i've been rubbing it too much.

wait, oh uhm. why are you pushing the paper so hard? you dont need to punch the surface with all your weight to get a pencil to draw a line.

ive gotten so paranoid about oils from my hands and accidental smudging that i stopped touching the surface entirely. what kind of marks require your full strength?

[J Wilson]

You should generally have a light touch when sketching, it will give you more control and fluidity. As much as possible make motions from your shoulder. When that isn't practical, rest your arm weight on your elbow and keep your hand light. Ideally it should barely touch the paper.

[serhc]

i totally thought you were rubbing something else dude

[Anid Maro]

Rubbing jokes aside, at what scale do you draw?

I typically draw at a fairly small scale and I get the same hand cramps right below the pinky. Simply taking a break and maybe massaging the area will do the trick.

Far as I can tell it's not so much the bearing down on the paper that causes the cramps but rather that working at a small scale requires super minute control over your hand movements, which comes along with it's own stresses and cause cramps after a while. I also get the same cramps when I do a lot of writing, regardless of pressure.

[Black Spot]

Sometimes the pencil is too thin. Wrap a few rubber bands around it to increase its width.

And those with dirty minds go straight to the headmaster.

[el coro]

i get that sometimes. but ive been drawing 6-12 hours a day since 1993.
i agree, a larger pencil helps. i been using those dr grips, which work hella nice. but generally, id say be gentle. drawing with a softer touch helps me.

i like how your avatar totally relates to this thread.

c36

[Kvick]

lolz, thanks for the replies guys.

and serhc, I've already built up callouses for that kind of rubbing.

I don't really push against the paper/tablet, I was just trying to give a more detailed description of my... eh.. drawing form?

Recently I've only been using my tablet, sometimes paper.

I've been just using a wristbrace, minus the steel brace part, and using it like a glove, but it doesn't always help.

yeah coro, I noticed that too after I made the thread haha