During a recent workshop, I found myself in a familiar pickle—reaching into the centre of my pastel piece with no place to rest my hand. My hand wobbled, my elbow hovered, and I crossed my fingers I wouldn’t smudge the layers I’d just built up on the paper. That’s when I really wished I’d packed my mahlstick!
I’ve often been asked about my mahlstick when viewers see me use it in a painting demo. So let’s get into it!
What is a Mahlstick?
A mahlstick (from the Dutch maalstok, meaning “painter’s stick” – from malen, “to paint” and stok, “stick”) is a light stick traditionally used by oil painters to steady the hand and avoid touching the wet surface of the canvas. One end is usually padded or wrapped and rests on the easel or canvas edge while the artist holds the other end with the non-painting hand and balances the painting hand against it.
Here are three paintings where you can see the mahlstick – the Vermeer painting shows it in use.
But here’s the thing: it’s just as helpful for pastel artists.
How I Use Mine
My mahlstick (or mahl stick) is as simple as they come—just a piece of ¾-inch dowel. No padding. No frills. And it works beautifully. (It’s actually a perch from a bird cage!)
I rest one end on the board onto which my paper is taped and lightly balance my hand against it. This gives me control for creating fine details without having to touch the surface. It’s especially handy in those “centre of the painting” moments when there’s nothing to lean on but air.
Why A Mahlstick Is So Useful
- Prevents smudging: No more accidental wrist, side of hand, or pinky marks across your carefully rendered painting.
- Supports fine detail work: It’s brilliant when you need a steady hand for making even or straight lines or painting precise pastel strokes. When you’re refining facial features or adding a perfectly placed highlight, a mahlstick is indispensable!
- Helps with posture: Keeps your arm relaxed and supported, rather than hovering uncomfortably.
- Slows you down (in a good way): Using a mahlstick can help you be more intentional and accurate with your markmaking and stroke placement
This is me working without a mahlstick:
DIY Tips
You don’t need anything fancy. A dowel from the hardware store works perfectly. I like a ¾-inch size. It’s thick enough to support my painting hand comfortably, more so than a thinner stick. I also like wood because of the warm feel of it. The main thing is to find something that’s light and comfortable to hold. You also need it long enough to stretch beyond your paper and be as long as the piece you’re working on. My short dowel wouldn’t work on an 18 x 24 in painting!
You don’t really need a padded end since it’s rare that you’d rest the mahlstick directly on pastel-covered paper. However, you could always get a square of soft leather and stuff it with cotton and wrap that around the end of the stick.
If you just want to buy your own, you could try this one.
A Tool Worth Trying
The mahlstick might not be trendy or techy, but it’s one of those overlooked tools that quietly makes painting easier. It helps you work with more confidence, more precision—and far fewer smudges.
I hope that answers the question of why I use a mahlstick and what’s so great about it!
Have you used one before? Or found another clever solution for keeping your hand steady? I’d love to hear your tips so please leave a comment.
Until next time!
~ Gail
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