Submitting for a critique

[Janet Kimantas]

Oh eeeek, Allan. You may have really nailed it. You see, I have serious problems with my arms and shoulders and am not physically able to paint "at arm's length". I actually have to prop my arm up on my knee to paint. So I don't get back far enough to really see it. I had actually thought that I needed a smooth surface to roll back my chair often enough to get a good look, but hadn't done so. This may explain a lot. Thanks so much. Janet

[Allan Rahbek]

Originally Posted by Janet Kimantas

Oh eeeek, Allan. You may have really nailed it. You see, I have serious problems with my arms and shoulders and am not physically able to paint "at arm's length". I actually have to prop my arm up on my knee to paint. So I don't get back far enough to really see it. I had actually thought that I needed a smooth surface to roll back my chair often enough to get a good look, but hadn't done so. This may explain a lot. Thanks so much. Janet

Janet,
I am sorry to read about your problem, but I came to think that you could place a mirror on the wall behind you so that you can swing around and watch the painting from that distance. This will be reversed though , but you will have a certain distance without having to move allot.
Just a thought, Allan

[Julie Deane]

I don't have much to add, Janet, but can emphasize with the distance thing. I'm learning how important it is.

Here's something you might want to try - a reducing lens. I just got one to help myself. Looks like a magnifying lens, but does the opposite. Helps to see the whole thing shrunk down, as if you had stepped away from it.

[Janet Kimantas]

A reducing lens? Where would you pick up something like that? Does it distort much? I sounds interesting. I can think of many uses: excuse me, annoying person, while I get my lens out to reduce you; there, that's better!