Why does an artist use a padded tip on a stick?

lanfranco

Do you mean a maulstick (or mahlstick)? In painting, such a stick can be used to support the brushhand, in order to steady it. http://www.answers.com/topic/maulstick Feb 07 06, 5:16 PM

minuscule_

Yes lanfranco. Is that a self portrait? Feb 07 06, 5:36 PM

lanfranco

The demonstrative "that" referring to what, exactly? If you're talking about the nice little Adriaen von Ostade on the site, the answer is "No." Not only am I an art historian, not an artist, I'm also female. Feb 07 06, 5:44 PM

lanfranco

That should have been "van Ostade," not "von" Must remember the proper Dutch. Feb 07 06, 5:47 PM

gmackematix

To be fair Frankie, minuscule did ask if was "a" self portrait and not "your" self-portrait! Feb 07 06, 5:53 PM

minuscule_

I've an idea the maulstick is for fine detail. Feb 07 06, 5:56 PM

Baloo55th

Not to paint fine detail! As lanfranco says, to steady the hand - and keep you out of the wet paint. Comes from Dutch words meaning paint stick. More often than artists using them (unless painting vast canvases which they don't tend to do now - too hard to sell and manage. You get more publicity for cutting a sheep in half and pickling it.) it's signwriters that use them. I saw one in use last week in Birkdale village where someone was relettering a shop sign. Feb 07 06, 6:36 PM

lanfranco

No, not for fine detail, but a maulstick could be used to manipulate high impasto -- thick, highly-textured paint surfaces. Feb 07 06, 6:54 PM

Baloo55th

I'd rather use a palette knife for that - easier to control. I don't tend to go for impasto, though. I prefer a flattish surface with contrasts made by using different mediums (even lighter fluid!) Feb 07 06, 7:02 PM