Painting workstation ergonomics...

[Ekfud]

Hi folks - 

 

Not sure there is a right place to ask this, so please move if needed... 

 

For background - I recently had some persistent neck/headache issues from leaning towards a computer monitor at work (yes... turns out poor posture for 60 hours a week is bad... who knew...). However, the physio also asked if there were home activities that might contribute and I kind of had to admit that a couple of hours hunched and squinting at plastic models on the weekend probably doesn't help...  

 

SO - partly out of general curiosity, and maybe handy while the ETL is on - I was wondering if people are willing to share thoughts on how they keep good posture while painting, and maybe pics of painting stations if that is key to good habits. I've found the generic advice of 'get up for a few minutes every hour' isn't really enough, and am guessing that the folk painting more like every day on commissions probably have more experience in getting this kind of thing right for sustained painting sessions. 

 

Maybe tools or habits like...

- Putting elbows on the desk so the mini is eye height (and helps keep back straight)

- Lower your chair so you are closer to the work

- Use those massive magnifier/lamp setups

- Or complete alternatives... like working from the couch while semi-reclined

 

I know a couple of more etsy-type people who use a 'jewellers' workstation (high table with a half-circle cut out, so everything is close up and eye height) and several light sources so they don't have to keep tilting their head or body to get the right angle. Although that's probably more into the professional crafter category of 40+ hours a week... 

 

Anyway - interested to get some thoughts on what helps people look after their posture/health while hobby-ing. 

 

Cheers,

Ekfud. 

[Grotsmasha]

I used to get a sore back/neck when painting for longer than 45mins or so, I now rest my elbows on top a raised surface on my table top, putting the model at a non-slouched eye level. I also sit forward in my chair with my legs tucked under as it helps my posture too. I also have one of those round magnifying glass things with the inbuilt led lights, it's made a massive differences for me.

 

Cheers,

Jono

[Kinstryfe]

I have a heck of a bad back as it is, and I find that when I can the least uncomfortable results come from when I can kind of recline and paint. I don't know if it's ergonomic, but it kind of prevents me from hunching over. I try to do all my main painting like that if I can, and just get in really close for the detail work.

[PeteySödes]

The light is never right for me if I try to recline so I do the opposite hah. I get my chair and self as close to the table as possible and sot up straight. As others have said I do the elbow thing do with a shooters grip on brush and model. Less back pain and steadier hands!

[NiceGuyAdi]

I suffered from the purest, most blinding agony with back pain early this year and bad posture was a big part of it, so I sympathise.

 

The thing about resting your elbows on the desk is it can encourage you to roll your shoulders and crane your neck forward into the miniature.

 

Now I sit up with my feet slightly forward, small pillow against the small of my back, elbows tucked in by my sides and offering the miniature up close to my face. That way my spine and neck are held in a natural position.

[Ekfud]

Thanks folks - that all sounds like good advice... although I'm struggling to picture what a reclined painting pose looks like :-)

 

I went digging around a bunch of general model forums as well and seems to be a few common threads in terms of tips that reflect similar advice, and essentially all geared towards stopping forward/hunched posture. Ie, as long as you keep head, neck and shoulders straight and upright... fight the temptation to lean towards the table/model... you are most of the way to avoiding the big problems. I think the notes below are probably overkill (and seriously... 99% of my issue has been work posture) but still think it could be worthwhile to summarise a bunch of what I have now read (again... particularly with people doing long hours on ETL at the moment). 

 

Top tips so far... 

1. Use an office chair with arms. It's both height adjustable (which can help get the right height vs table) and putting elbows on armrests brings the mini closer to eye height.

     Assuming the arm rests are a good personal height, I think this is probably plenty for occasional/light level of painting without needing to drastically change a workspace. 

 

2. Raise the work surface on the table. As Grot/Niceguy mention... this seems to be key. Getting elbows higher really seems to help stop the shoulders creeping forward.

     Suggestions I've read include using a firm/latex pillow on top of a normal table... or propping the table legs up, or just sitting a box/riser on top of the table.  

     Whichever method of elevation, the personal height is best where elbows are supported with hands at eye height while back/head are up straight. 

     To add NiceGuy's comment - feet forward and lower back padding should help keep this in the right place. And don't tuck one leg sideways or backward and twist the spine. 

 

3. Have something higher to lean wrists on. Kind of related to #2... having another box or shelf that is closer to eye height also gives something to rest wrists against. 

     For those drinking coffee or generally over the age of about 30... keeping a really steady hand for detail seems to be much easier with something to press against. 

     This is a bit less about posture by itself, but the temptation when doing fine detail is to lean down and rest wrists on the table edge for control - avoid that option. 

 

4. Lighting location. In hindsight, I realise the other part of my issue is working under a relatively low lamp - so I was hunching towards the light rather than the other way around.

     Top tip from one of the train builders is that he puts a floor lamp over his shoulder - it's still adjustable, but it's almost like the light source is from the direction of his 'eyes'.

     Even more specifically - he suggests having the light coming over your 'off' shoulder (I'm a lefty, so over the right would be best) to 

     Failing that, something with a big swing arm that can be moved around as well as elevated much higher seems to score lots of points with long-session painters.

 

5. Regular breaks. I'm sceptical of the 'take a 1 min walk every hour' office advice (at least in the sense that it's less important than good posture for the 59 minutes), but trying to add this to my habits now as well. Specifically, when changing to a new colour, get up and change the water as well. Gets the break in while you don't have open/wet paint out, with added bonus of having clean water and even clean brushes (especially helpful when switching metallics or washes). Of course, when you are doing the same highlight colour on 30 marines you might need a break more often... but you get the idea. 

 

~. Optional extra... I've also just swapped my ~18 month old 'main' brush for a new one. I look after them with a bit of brush cleaner every couple of sessions but god damn a nice crisp tip seems to help put down paint without having to wiggle things in different directions or rely on edge-brushing. Brush is now going in the same direction all the time so less weird wrist postures. 

 

Ok... that ended up being a much longer post than I was expecting. 

Hopefully useful summary of general advice though. 

 

Ekfud. 

[Stoic Raptor]

Taking frequent breaks is important. Walking isn't necessary, but standing up and stretching helps.  Also use the "20/20 Rule":  Every 20 minutes, focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds, to reduce eyestrain (or as far away as possible since most rooms aren't often that big)