Sore Drawing Hand (Cures?)

[badass]

Have you ever drawn so much that your drawing hand/wrist begins to ache?

It happens to me once in a while, but I usually just ignore it. When its too painful to keep drawing I take a break, soak my hand in warm water and do some wrist stretching.

I was just wondering if anyone out there has some amazing hand-yoga technique or something. What do you do when your drawing hand gets sore?

[Earendil]

I try to use my other hand if I can. If there's any inflammation, a cold compress and anti-inflammatories such as Ibuprofen, 200mg @ 3x a day have worked well for me. But rest will do wonders. Full rest, do not use the arm period.

Try not to "work through the pain" otherwise you'll spend weeks recovering. I've had tendinitis for a while because I lifted weights that were too heavy, bad ergonomic workspace, and I didn't stop when it hurt. Now, as long as I go in smaller spurts, stretch, it's ok. I just know when to stop, and let it rest and recover. It's really made me aware of how I work.

Also consider how you're holding the pen(cil), how efficient you are with your strokes. If you're making millions of strokes to depict a form that can be done in 5 strokes, then try and simplify that. Can you work from the elbow more? This soreness I've had has been good for analyzing wasted strokes, and how inefficient I draw, so be mindful of that as well.

Hope this helps! :)

[LORD M]

Don't soak it in warm water only, try and soak it in cold water aswell - it freshes you up.

But the best thing to do is to take a break, go read a magazine or something.

[Noah Bradley]

Definitely keep stretching. Building some more forearm muscles could probably help, too.

[Kiera]

Earendil is right, learn how to use your pencil, I don't get my hands sore after 3 hours of straight drawing without break.
Hold the pencil looser, more near the middle and not near the tip - gives you more radius (= less work for wrist).
Get your lines out of the elbow or the shoulder, that will also give you more secure and dynamic lines (especially when you crosshatch, use your elbow).
Work on your own linequality.. think about where you put the lines and what kind of lines, don't only using crosshatching but hold the pencil sideways and use the whole tip of the pencil for shading.
Draw on a tilted surface, something like a drawing table or just a piece of cardboard with books under it (I get elbow pain when I don't do this).
You don't always have to draw with pencil, try a brush. That would also be a good lesson for lines.

If you work with a tablet, try to hold the pen like a chinese brush

[Max Challie]

Relax. Is it possible that your hand gets sore because you're pressing it down too hard? I never get a sore hand from drawing. I don't understand tension in drawing anyway, you're just making a few strokes on paper.

How To Hold The Pencil (http://www.chiseledrocks.com/articles/grips/section0.htm)

[BAMartin]

I've had the same thing happen - I use a wacom pen literally all day (day job & illo work).

I do a couple of things. soak the hand in warm water with epsom salts and I also use a dyna-flex 'exerciser' at times...
but taking a break - if possible - is VERY helpful

[Max Challie]

Oh yeah, make hand excersizes your habit.

[thesaint]

I agree with Earendil too, never force your body too much, take a break, read something, and go back to the drawing later. If you get an inflamation you have some reeal pain, and it can even damage your hand permanently, so, take some breaks.

[FLenG]

A kiss from your mommy.. and STOP fapping with the same hand you draw.

[J Wilson]

Ideally your grip should be relaxed and somewhat loose. There shouldn't be a whole lot of pressure going on there. Also, most "correct" drawing is from the whole arm, so your hand should have even less to do. Unless your arm is really out of shape, then I'd guess that you just need to focus more on proper drawing technique.

[batcustard]

Drawing from the shoulder as a habit, helps. Softer pencils.