Do you use a drawing board?

[cindyq]

Seems like a silly question, but I'm pondering whether or not to get a drafting board for penciling and stuff. So I'd like some insight from people who use them
and which is a good one for a space conscious room. A really space conscious room.

[ws.iono]

Hmmm... Perhaps you might consider building one. A while ago, i utilized the more rigid cardboard of sketchbooks, and propped them on whathaveyous...
for instance, some plywood, masonite, for a smooth surface, hinges, and dowels, etc...
You can then just rest it on a desk, stowing it away when it might not be in use...

I hope that might be of some potential assistance ...

Best of luck ...

[the_jos]

A couple of months ago I bought an A3 portable drawing board.
It holds the paper and has a ruler for both horizontal and vertical lines.
It's rather convenient, I can put it away easy and it takes no space at all.

This is the expensive option, if you don't need the ruler you can make one yourself from some board and a couple of drawing board clips. Just make sure the surface isn't too smooth, you don't want your paper to slip.

[Farvus]

I use small A3 drawing board a lot and I made it myself. It's basicly two layers of thick cardboard glued together. I also wrapped the corners with sticky tape to prevent it from damage and it works well .

[jhofferle]

Hardboard panels and binder clips.

[Smarty]

I have an A2 piece of 3 ply which i clip my drwaings too. I lean this agianst my desk when I'm drawing. Works perfect, cost probably around £2

[Ilaekae]

Normally, yes. 42" x 36" laminate on wood with four folding/collapsable legs.

[MyOrangeHat]

If I didn't what would I go back to when things aren't working.

Yeah I've got a 18x24in drawing board and a smaller one too. Basic wood with a handle and two clips at the top. Nothing fancy or expensive. And my drawing board can go outside with me which is much easier than drawing on my lap.

[alesoun]

I have a drawing board, but only use it if I need to use a T-bar or stretch paper. I usually just put several sheets of paper on a hardback journal I have.

[Zaxser]

Have an A1, basic drawing board with clips. More expensive options might be better, but what i've got is useless unless you want to draw at A1 without a drawing desk. In this respect, they're very nice for charcoal and to a lesser extent, conte.

A must if your at a school that will make you work at a1 size drawings all year.

Otherwise, they tend to just gets in the way. Hard smooth backings for drawing are abundant with a decent imagination.

[cdejong]

I got a nice drafting table for my birthday, it's pretty fucking awesome. Definitely helped me a lot, because I draw fairly big (18"-24") sometimes, and the ability to tilt the table top allows me to see the whole drawing without perspective (the perspective issue has ruined a couple drawings for me in the past).

[Twelve]

Here is something I savaged when I broke down my old desk. I have an 'a' side for drawing (or not today as the paper is blank, the irony, lol). That's a4 to give you an idea of size. The 'b'side is what I use when I'm cutting and sticking and it's starting to form a really nice texture This little baby can come anywhere with me, Lay out on the floor, sketch in bed, on the sofa or outside. It's perfect for me. I don't think you need to buy one as the world you're in already provides the material in which you can look for to discover or make one.

[vardoburrito]

I do, it's big and it takes up plenty of space.

My advice would be to get an idea of how big your going to be working with.
If it's A1 sizes, then you don't really have much of a choice.
If your working small, do what everyone has suggested. A small DIY
board, just something sturdy.
I should've just bought a nice comfortable couch to be honest.
That way I can take a nap without lifting my ass

Alvins are a good choice I think? I'm in Australia, so the shit here
is way over priced. I couldn't get an Alvin shipped here which really sucked.

[Eva K]

I use an 18"x24" Alvin PXB board, and love it. I prefer working on slanted surfaces and ever since I got this board I've noticed how much better and relaxed I feel while using it. Working on a flat surface for many hours at a time would kill my back and neck

[deep]

Yes, very useful for drawing with Arm .. and don't crack your neck!

This is mine...A3 with 360' rotation and lovely wooden material...

[cindyq]

Yes, very useful for drawing with Arm .. and don't crack your neck!

This is mine...A3 with 360' rotation and lovely wooden material...

do you find your arm getting tired in that position? And does that have adjustable height?

[deep]

do you find your arm getting tired in that position?

Yes sometimes, But don't worry about it, you can change your hand position or adjust height or rotate canvas!

And does that have adjustable height?

Yes, All professional desktop drawing-boards have adjustable height and sometimes rotation wheel!

Sorry about my stupid grammar, hope you get it!

[PsiBug]

I had some fairly large unused picture frames and I got into the habit of using the glass as my drawing surface (with the frame propped up in my lap or laying on my bed.. The frame around the edges kept my pencils and erasers from rolling away and the glass was good for a cutting surface when necessary. Another benefit is that you can open up the frame and put the finished drawings inside it for easier carrying. Some people may find that the frame edges interfere with drawing.

I had a bad habit of laying the frame flat and huddling over it though. The result was headaches and neck aches.

Lately I've been carrying a plain old 3-ring binder (with a hard cover) and a plastic pencil box. I have a tendency to sit in a chair with the binder angled in my lap, or possibly leaning the binder against my desk, for loose sketches that get scanned and finished digitally.


PsiBug

[Kangum]

I use an 18"x24" Alvin PXB board, and love it. I prefer working on slanted surfaces and ever since I got this board I've noticed how much better and relaxed I feel while using it. Working on a flat surface for many hours at a time would kill my back and neck

This is what I used to use. I also bought alot of fancy tools around the same time. out of all my fancy tools and stuff i ended up with a standard pencil and a 1/2 inch 3 ring binder. the binder folds backwards to make a firm drawing area. it also allows me to add or remove stuff from my sketchbook easily. so in the end I turned out using about 7 dollars worth of equipment.

[JailHouseRock2]

I use one sometimes but not all the time,

and it's home made, looks kinda like deep's, but with out the rotation wheel.

[FLenG]

I made my own, using a piece of rectangular MDF board (any cheap long lasting flat wooden board will do) and just made it at an angle by using thick books.

Recently I added a metal shaft behind it to be the angular leg so its a tilted table.

[Cryoxzonomony]

i hate the fucking eraserdust spilling from everywhere with any style pic thats why i want board but hte effort

[gogidolim]

I use this 3/4 inch thick wooden board. (no, it's lightweight.) Works fine especially you are doing 11"X17" size artwork.