Your Body Almanac

Painting and drawing

Hours of fine, precise hand work, often hunched over a page or easel.

Making art is good for the mind. Physically, it means holding a pen or brush with precise control for long stretches, often bent over a desk. The hand, neck and eyes do most of the work.

01

Hand and wrist strain

Gripping a pen, pencil or stylus tightly for hours, often with the wrist bent, loads the small tendons of the hand and thumb. Cramping and aching are early signs of overuse.

SourcesRepetitive strain injury (NHS)Carpal tunnel syndrome (OrthoInfo, AAOS)
Do tendon glides for your handsDailyMove your fingers through five positions to help the tendons slide smoothly through the wrist. Stretch your wrists and forearmsDailyGentle wrist flexor and extensor stretches for hands that type, grip or tap all day. Vary your grip and postureDailySwitch hands, tasks and positions so the same muscles and tendons are not loaded for hours.
02

Neck and shoulder tension

Leaning over a flat desk or reaching to an easel holds the head forward and the drawing shoulder raised. Tilting your work surface and taking breaks helps.

SourcesNeck pain (OrthoInfo, AAOS)
Do chin tucksDailyGlide your head straight back to counter the forward-head posture that screens and desks encourage. Stretch the sides of your neckDailySlow side tilts to loosen neck and upper-shoulder muscles that tense up at desks. Check your desk setupAs neededSet chair, keyboard and screen so you can work in a relaxed, neutral posture.
03

Eye strain from close detail work

Focusing on fine details at close range, or on a tablet screen, tires the eyes. Poor lighting makes it worse.

SourcesComputer vision syndrome (American Optometric Association)
Follow the 20-20-20 ruleDailyEvery 20 minutes at a screen, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Get a comprehensive eye examYearlySee an optometrist or ophthalmologist every one to two years, and every year once you are 65 or at higher risk.
04

Long sessions without moving

Getting absorbed in a piece can mean hours without standing up. Long, unbroken sitting is linked to poorer heart and metabolic health.

SourcesHealth risks of an inactive lifestyle (MedlinePlus)
Get up and move every 30 minutesDailyBreak up long stretches of sitting with a few minutes of standing or walking. Take a brisk daily walkDailyWalk at a pace that raises your breathing for at least 10 minutes a day, building up over time.

When to see a professional

See a doctor for numbness or tingling in your fingers, hand pain that lasts after you stop working, or headaches with blurred vision. If you use solvents, spray fixatives or powdered pigments, read the product label and ask a doctor about any coughing, headaches or rashes.