I have a first-generation Apple Pencil and iPad Pro, and I love using them to make digital art. However, after a few weeks, I noticed that my hand was really tired when I finished drawing. Then, it began to hurt while I was drawing. Soon, I felt like my hand was freezing into a claw-like position, and it hurt for hours after drawing. I knew it was because I was holding my Apple Pencil too tightly. I’d never had trouble with my Wacom pen or with traditional art supplies, but I couldn’t seem to relax my grip with the Apple Pencil.
I was worried that I was causing permanent damage to my hand! So, I turned to a couple of Facebook groups for help.
I received such a huge, warm, and helpful response! So many people have had the same issue with the Apple Pencil! Here’s the advice they gave me:
- Get a pencil grip. The Apple Pencil is slippery and difficult to hold on to. There are numerous inexpensive grips available. I tried two. This first one didn’t work well for me. The thicker grip didn’t suit my hand. But many people have had great success with a thicker grip like this one :
This is the grip I like best. It makes the Apple Pencil much easier for me to hold, which enables me to loosen my grip.
2. Do hand exercises and stretches. I looked up the topic on YouTube and found a couple of videos that really helped. Here are two of my favorites:
3. Get a wrist brace. This really helped while I was recovering from the pain. I even wore it while I slept for a few nights. It also helps while I’m drawing because it holds my wrist in the correct position, and its presence helps keep me mindful of my grip.
4. Rest. I stopped drawing for a week until the pain went away. Happily, the pain did go away!
These steps worked wonders for me! I’m back to pain-free drawing on the iPad again. I’m setting a timer to make sure I take breaks while I’m drawing and continuing to do the stretches after my drawing sessions. (Good practices for artists in general!)
I’m so happy I reached out and asked the iPad artists for help. It’s so much fun to be part of a creative group – and it’s useful as well.
Of course, this isn’t intended to be medical advice…please see your doctor if you’re experiencing hand pain for any reason! This is just what worked for me, and if it hadn’t worked quickly, I’d definitely have called for an appointment!
