Model's stand

[Tito Champena]

I'm a beginner painter who wants to become a portrait artist. I have finally finished setting up my own studio at my house, luckily with a North side window. My new task now is to obtain a wooden stand for my sitters, because I understand that I should try to line up the model's eyes with my line of vision. What should be the dimensions of the stand? Can a stand be made ajustable to various heights? Do I have to hire a carpenter to build it? I will apprciate your advice.

[William Whitaker]

Tito,

I have a couple of model stands each in different locations. My fancy stand is like fine furniture and even has stairs.

Here is a picture of my old standby workhorse of a model stand that was built for me in 1977. The top is made of heavy plywood and is covered by a piece of carpet that I stapled to the overhanging edge of the top. Actually, there are two or three pieces of carpet with the top piece holding down the others.

The top measures 4x5 feet and it stands about 18 inches off the floor. It is very heavy but the big wheels make it easy to move.

The white speck above the near leg is actually a bolt that helps hold the leg in place.

If I have to raise or lower my subject, I pose them on my height adjustable office chair. Mostly I don't worry about the height thing.

I didn't build this, but I could. And if I could build it, anybody could.

The bamboo for the mahl stick came from my back garden when I lived in Arizona. I wish I had more, but that is another subject..

Bill

[Tito Champena]

Thank you William, just like they say: "one picture is worth more than 1000 words". You just gave me the right idea with your picture. The bamboo Mahl Stick is such a clever and exotic choice. Mine is just a piece of aluminum tubing. I had used an antique brass and wood walking stick before, but it was too heavy.

[William Whitaker]

Tito,

Aluminum tubing makes a great mahl stick. It is lighter than a wood dowel too.

Remember too that aluminum was an exotic metal in the days of Bouguereau.

Those guys would have killed for the status symbol of an aluminum mahl stick.

[Elizabeth Schott]

The more I draw from life, the more I feel a challenge that might be in the reverse of most here.

I have been thinking about making a model stand (I especially loved the idea I saw somewhere from Chris Saper about adding flat shelf storage), but if the purpose is to raise the model to your eye level, what does the vertically challenged artist do? Should I be considering an artist platform? I have shied away from anyone in a standing pose for this purpose, but I know I am supposed to walk back from my canvas and would need a runway if I were to elevate the easel and myself? Perhaps I am thinking about this wrong.

I forgot to mention my models sit on a high stool.

[Mike McCarty]

Yo Liz,

You might want to try this simple solution. Sit across the dining room table near a window. Instead of an easel just use your sketch pad.

Do what I do, only draw people from life that have never had their photo taken. This will guarantee a likeness every time. And preferably, only use people that are just passing through town.

[Elizabeth Schott]

Hey Mike, thanks for the creative solutions. Unfortunately I have already turned the lovely beige carpet of my living room into the fur of a red and beige Dalmatian, so there is no way I can move it into the dining room.

My question must have sounded silly, but it was sincere. I guess I do not have enough room to walk the walk from my easel and back so I am trying to avoid a series of "nostril" images.

[Michele Rushworth]

I, too, am "vertically challenged" and the first time I photographed a six-foot-three man for a portrait I realized I needed a tall tripod for my camera (I work from photos) and a stepladder for me. I didn't want "nostril" portraits, either!

As for painting from life, yes, definitely, get or build yourself an artist's stand or have your models sit on a shorter chair. Whatever it takes to get yourself and the model to the height you like.