Curious, is it harder to draw in the colder months? Any tips?

[2DLenzy]

Woke up this morning and did a quick funny comic, but my hands were so cold that drawing it didn't feel right. I put on gloves but it still feels cold, like my fingers are number/weaker? Might be a circulation problem or fibromyalgia coming on, which worries me a bit.

Does this happen to y'all in fall/winter? And do you have any tips/advice for artists who are cold-sensitive?

[NickRowler]

I have Chronic Fatigue and cold weather takes a bad toll on me. I sometimes feel like I turn into a statue. I usually take hiatus during time or focus on small projects.

The best advice I can suggest is layering up. I have a thick blanket which I will wrap around myself if needed. Wear a knit hat if needed.

[Quinvert]

I have bad circulation and arthritis so colder months are really rough for me when it comes to drawing.

What has helped a lot are compression gloves and a wheat/kernal pillow that I heat and use to warm up my fingers when I take breaks(which I do often).

[2DLenzy]

Well, I'm currently wearing two pairs of gl\oves, the outer pair are mittens thaT have a top 'half' to fold back to use fingers. Also doing some finger exercises while wearing and that is helping alot. Awkward ti type tho and impossible to use touchscreen. But it helos!

[Kelheor]

Drinking hot insert a beverage. Better if you have a cup thermos. I prefer water with lemon and ginger

[2DLenzy]

Oh, yeah, ginger will definitely warm ya up. Reminds me when I used to drink green tea with cayenne.
Might be doing that again, but with cocoa. Hot chocolate!

[ThunderChicken]

I find drawing in the colder months easier, mainly because I have more time to draw. It’s dark at supper time and no yard work or renovation work to worry about. As for the actual temperature, I just light a fire in the wood stove, and before I know it it’s 28 degrees Celsius in the house.

[moontokkym]

Winter can make drawing difficult for a ton of reasons:

• Lack of natural light can make it difficult for traditional artists to draw in colour because all their colours in the evening will be skewed towards the natural yellow of most household lights. Also increases eye fatigue for digital artists working in darkness.

• Seasonal depression is a thing, and depression will influence your motivation and capacity to make art you're proud of (for anyone who thinks they might be suffering from seasonal depression, talk to your doctor to see if it is, the "fix" is usually just some vitamin D rich suppliments and it can really make a difference)

• I have Raynaud's syndrome which essentially means my hands and feet cannot "reheat themselves". As in once they're cold, no matter how many gloves or socks I put on, my body cannot use its natural heat to heat them up, and it can get to the point I can no longer feel my fingers and toes even when I've been in warmer temps for over an hour. I need to actively get an external heat source like warm water or hand-warmers onto them. From what you've said, it sounds kind of similar. What I do is have a hot water bottle on hand and a candle on my desk so I can regularly go and warm my hands up.

Like others have said, other than the candle and hot water bottle I've got my work blanket constantly on my chair, thick knitwear, and also a warm bunny who comes and sits on my feet lol.

[KSlinger]

I live in a very cold, damp place and I can't say it enough-- HOT WATER BOTTLES. They're absolutely amazing, I'm practically never without one. I have it in my lap while I work, it's cheaper than having the heating on, and I find they last hours. Sooo warm. Also recommend those gigantic socks that are made to be worn in welly boots. And those giant hoodies you can wear a dozen other tops under. I wouldn't survive the winter here without these things.

[morganicfoods]

The bones in my hands are all messed up, so I feel the cold and rain very strongly. I've had to draw through like -30°C a few times before, and I live in afucking rainforest (I'm Canadian). I have hardly any body fat to keep me warm and constantly have hands that feel like they're from Antartica. Here's my advice:

• Space heater/Fire place. You're never gonna get warm if your body's cold.
• Blankets, layers, whatever. Stay bundled up.
• Gloves are always a must. Nothing too tight or restricting, as that can make it more difficult to draw.
• Any specific heatable thing you can put on your hands, like a heat pack or hot water bottle.
• Keep your hands moving. Move your shoulders up and down a lot to get the circulation back into your hands. Do exercise that includes hand movements (AKA dance? lol)
• Cardio can help warm up your body and keep you overall healthy. Just run and jump around for a bit. Keep up the circulation.
• Ginger or cinnamon tea. Or just drink more hot beverages in general.
• This one might just be me, but make sure you don’t accidentally start starving yourself. You need energy to keep warm. Protein.
• Warm hand baths. Give your hands a nice bath in warm water. You can put in some epson salt or whatever to help relieve any tension.
• Strech out your hands and fingers (but only when they are not cold!!) Cold can make your muscles tighten up, which can make you weaker and movement more difficult. So make sure to loosen them muscles!
• If nothing you do helps, there might be another underlying issue. Go see a doctor, and make sure they believe everything you say.

[ArtGremlin]

I live in the kind of place that almost never gets cold enough for snow, so my hands are generally warm enough to draw all the time. But I think I have experienced it before at some point. I have no tips though. I’m just a cold blooded lil desert lizard 🦎 I don’t generate heat.

[Legendofgenii]

As @Kelheor suggested, I always have a hot cup of tea when I'm drawing.

I also have a lapdog (Douglas) who gives off a lot of heat.

[morganicfoods]

I also have a lapdog (Douglas) who gives off a lot of heat.

Oh yeah, having cuddly dog(s) help. I've got two dogs who love to snuggle right up to me while I draw. And it's also great in the summer, cuz when they get soaking wet they're cold so they wanna cuddle.