Artists, STOP Sitting Like This! 🦐

[@TammyJerkChicken]

“Shrimping” is a great term! I call it “Gremlin posture”

[@kaitlindoesarts]

I call it gargoyle posture! 😆

[@shadowdroid776]

For the walking frequently part (which you all should do), being sedentary for long periods of time leads to an increased risk of blood clots in your legs. Wear compression socks and take frequent breaks to walk and stretch!

[@GorbWasHere]

My tactical thigh high socks

[@LillianGraceFullofficial]

as someone who had a tethered cord and had to have surgery PLEASE take care of your back! after I got out of surgery I moved too much and had a terrible posture and it made it hurt so bad! still kinda does :^(

[@matthewjones6786]

I feel like I have an awful physical setup for an artist. Hypermobility makes it so that I can't support a straight back/neck for very long, and POTS prevents me from using the standing option, and the blood pooling happens if I don't constantly shift around in the chair. Thank you for the advice, nice to see this topic covered!

[@DarkestFinale]

Same lol. I've seen some adjustments that might make most of this work still though. One is always having a good head support/rest, because idk about you but holding my head up is just not gonna happen. Another is having a seat that reclines so your legs/feet are on the same level-ish as your hips. It means having a regular desk is probably not the best idea for us, but there are lots of small tables/desks these days that are made to be used in bed or across your lap, which can work well! I do kinda wish I could get the same benefits from a standing desk or have a normal decent desk, but yeah. Not in this body.

[@matthewjones6786]

​@@DarkestFinale Yes, I absolutely need to get a small table/desk that I can extend my legs under! Thanks for the excellent advice. And it's nice to know I'm not alone in this. :)

[@hollymorris2640]

Yes!! Also shout out to my fellow EDS and POTS folks!! Look after your joints!!

[@PPBbunno]

@@hollymorris2640ive heard of pots, but what’s eds?

[@hollymorris2640]

Hi PPBbunno! Eds is known as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. It's a hypermobility connective tissue disorder that's linked with both POTS and MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome). Some of the symptoms are things like easily bruised skin, digestive issues, joints that click as well as easily dislocate, and dizziness and elevated heart rate when standing up.

[@Slacked2196]

LOVE this. I'm a long-time professional (Herman miller chair included!) in the creative field and this advice will LITERALLY lengthen your career, it will ease chronic pains, and will free up your mind to actually create.

[@sulggothewise]

This is something I've struggled with for a long time especially when I've got a good flow going because I don't realize I'm doing it.

[@jetzyrose]

I call it “banana posture” 😅Thanks for the tips my spine needs all the help she can get.

[@scarlettemurphy175]

Thank you for this! So grateful for not only being introduced to possible problems but also so glad you actually provided solutions!

[@crowxfi7983]

when you said to sit up straight and i in fact was slouching over i felt personally targeted 😭

[@scarlett6761]

Thank you for making this video! It gives some really helpful advice. Commenting since you asked for folks to do so if they like this type of content. P.S. Also, I love your aesthetic, so cute!

[@shada0]

Ergonomic Kneeling Chair I took a risk & got one last X-mas, finding it really useful. I haven't had much back pain since, being pretty much designed to let you shrimp. I got mine for $300 Canadian, a little pricey, but pretty cheap for a good office chair.

[@sneepy9861]

Do digital artists really draw while standing up? I tend to find that really difficult when you have a pen tablet and basically draw on the table. It would just increase my slouching I think...

[@mjangelvortex]

They make standing desks.

[@sneepy9861]

@@mjangelvortex How does that answer my question?

[@StarStoneWolf]

I can only picture the artists with money to buy not only a standing desk but also a stand for their big tablet that sits it up straight like a canvas on an easel, are the ones able to fully draw standing up while comfortable.

[@Topcatyo.]

Really great advice, it's really easy for artists to fall into the trap of horrible posture so it's always good for folks to put out reminders. I know my back is not great and it's definitely a combination of constant desk work and slouching in general throughout life. I've started to take up exercises and in general try to remember to stand/sit up straight. I think my next big monetary purchase will be a good chair. It just makes sense for that to be something worth investing in to get something of good quality. I'm also definitely interested in getting a standing desk someday when/if I have money. Also for not being on camera a whole lot, at least in my time following this channel, you really seem quite at ease with it and have good presence and charisma. You honestly have great presentation skills. Overall great video, artists should definitely give this one a watch.

[@Dark_Flame_Master]

Anyone else here who puts the right foot on the chair, leaves the left one on the floor, leans forward onto the left leg/knee, and sometimes put your head on the knee or leans sidewards because there’s no space on the table and you‘re too lazy to move the chair? 😅🥲

[@Krrly]

yes. just yes

[@existenthungoos9190]

This is very specific

[@dearkid_gacha]

Thank you Jessie to help us stop from having hunchbacks ( shrimping )

[@partyofnone159]

Video is great information, I personally have back issue’s because my shoulders are double jointed so they are usually dislocated and if I don’t correct my posture I end up in extreme pain Artists don’t shrimp or you’ll end up in the hospital

[@Shadowstar_Art]

I've been looking into getting a kneeling chair at this point after noticing I sit up straighter if I sit on my knees, and its one of the chairs i found when looking for "ergonomic chairs for back pain"

[@bittersweet2293]

What about when you're painting with watercolors? Whenever I paint with them I can't help but shrimp unless I want the them to run.

[@MasterCat8533]

My CTE teacher told us to sit up straight unless you want to be a hunch back… He still was shrimping

[@Binouchetruc]

Bold of you to assume I can keep the same position for more than 5 minutes :'P

[@catbatrat1760]

I have art class today, so this was perfect timing! ^w^

[@OneOfThemSprinkles]

I don't actually have a fuctional desk or a chair. I have a reclined armchair. Kinda hard to keep a good posture with that.

[@lizbethswenson9838]

Hello, I have a question about color theory. Let’s say you drew a character on a more traditional medium. That means you would have to use a RYB color wheel. And if you were to use a complementary color scheme with red and green, what would you if you wanted to draw the same character on a screen? Because for when you draw on a screen, you use the RGB color wheel. And when I look up the RGB color wheel the complementary color for red is blue, not green. So does that mean that your character which you originally created on paper, with a red, green complementary color scheme, that is now on a screen, is no longer a complementary color scheme, because RGB color wheel has red’s complementary color is blue instead of green? If you wanted to keep the complementary color scheme with red does this mean you now have to change the green to blue? And what does this mean when you’re trying to use color psychology? If blue doesn’t work with the color psychology, what would you do? Thank for your time.

[@bravegrrl]

I loved this video, and would love to watch more similar content by you!

[@rachelpinho5715]

I'd just like to share, that I'm a lucky artist because I have the best chair to draw in. My mum got it a while back. It's almost shaped like a giant bowl to sit in. And I can lay back, and put my feet up on my bed with my drawing ipad on my chest at eye level. And I don't have to stress to look down at my chest at my screen cause I have my bowl-like chair supporting my neck. The only thing if anything is sometimes the back of the upper part of the arm I'm drawing with between the shoulder and elbow ache a little and sometimes I have to rest it but it's nothing bad

[@mango_c00kie67]

can confirm i have 2 old books under my laptop and yeah it can help

[@Cwahsawnt]

I'd also add desk height to match your body. If your feet are swinging in the air just so your arms reach the desk, you might need a lower desk haha (or a temp fix is to get a stool for your feet).

[@judy8301]

😅 good and important info

[@JoyceW-Art]

This is a great video and super important! Do you also have a tip on now to hunch over when you're drawing on a screentablet? I have an included stand for my Cintiq 13HD and put it on the 2nd stand, but even then I hunch over to draw...

[@DarkestFinale]

Are you maybe hunching closer to see the screen better? You might need to get your eyesight checked and/or magnify the screen more.

[@JoyceW-Art]

@@DarkestFinale I might be subconsciously doing that yeah. I already have glasses and get my eyesight checked regularly at the optician and I also tend to zoom in a lot as well. Maybe I just need a bigger tablet screen…or hung forward out of habit

[@hollymorris2640]

Pbbbttt ok so this is the first time in my life that I have ever said that shrimp "shrimping" is a bad thing. Like I love shrimp!! It's my favorite food!!! I would eat it for every meal if I could!! So when I saw the term you used I just started laughing honestly 😂 🤣. But yes definitely not a great position, gotta maintain good blood flow and body position otherwise you'll be like me where you "snap, crackle, and pop" like a rice krispie....not a great feeling even if you like the cereal 😬😖. Make sure your taking a break fellow artists!!! Short walk, a stretch, reposition yourself in the chair, a cushion, maybe draw on your stomach? Take the time to look after the greatest artwork ever created that is your magnanimous self!!

[@gogocrazycocoa]

Since I've been diagnosed with two over 70 degree curves in my spine, I have been realizing a lot of stuff probably played into my scoliosis. One of them was how I hunch over when I draw. But hey, I now have no choice but to get spinal fusion so that'll fix my posture at least!!

[@FazartOrganization]

I.. love this desk.

[@Suejamin]

At work I stand all day long. Just the thought of standing in the evening while drawing makes my legs ache.

[@mythebe]

The intro scared the bleep out of me. I had told my psychiatrist to up my adhd medication because my current dose only allows me to concentrate on drawing for 6-8 hours. Now I know why she treated me like a crazy person for wanting to draw that long is because it would be impossible to avoid extremely unhealthy shrimping when drawing for the amount of time I feel like I'm supposed to.

[@MasterCat8533]

How am I stupoosed to sketch on paper if I’m looking straight ahead

[@KogXV]

I use procreate and an iPad Pro. I am not sure if there is a way for me to have it so my screen is directly in front of me without having to look down.

[@DarkestFinale]

Tilted desk like the architects desk?

[@SunnyCress]

@@DarkestFinalea much cheaper opting is getting a stand for your iPad! I have a stand that I put my iPad/ sketchbooks on and it’s SO convenient (I made myself one out of two wood offcuts and a cardboard box which works great, I’m sure you could make one with just a box too

[@YouTubeLover-z2i]

I like your channel So much

[@StarlightKitty7]

This video was an important reminder of how much of a shrimp I am. I know I already have back problems as I worked at a callcenter for two years with a terrible pose :/ I do agree that gaming chairs suck for drawing, I highly regret spending so much in my pink gaming chair just to go back to my black office chair xD Take care of your back and hand guys ♥Remember to use your whole arm for drawing and not your wrist.

[@catbatrat1760]

4:16 Wait, REALLY!?!?!?! I thought it would be the other way around!!!! Office chairs certainly aren't as comfortable...

[@tycathedrawer]

Yea!!

[@Slacked2196]

the wrong office chairs aren't as comfortable. the right office chairs are extremely comfortable.

[@catbatrat1760]

@@Slacked2196 But like, don't they all have that mesh back and mesh seat, or are some of them made of different material?

[@splendidcyan]

YOOOO I love this sort of art advice -- the stuff not necessarily tied to your skill growth, but to the body that DOES the skills!!! I got my office chair at an outlet store for only 120 dollars; it's not perfect BUT it's still got me at the 90 90 90 degrees thing, at least for my hips and ankles and arms. Locations like that are a good place to look for deals for those beginner stepping stone pieces. For another desk option, I was able to get the Studio Designs Futura LS Workcenter, which is basically two desks and a corner piece making an L shape, and one of the desks is the drafters/architects' table. At DickBlick it's only 220 dollars and it's preeeeetty sexy and the drafter's section is strong- it's stayed in an upright position no problem even with my 15 pound cat jumping onto it from a shelf. Just some options I've been able to take in the last year or two that I've found have helped a ton! (I can't do a standing desk because my desk is under my loft bed haha). Now to just start getting those ergonomic things set up for my laptop...

[@vivavy7444]

the secon i heard you say "You ever had to stay up till 3am..." and I though you would say "stay up to draw till 3am" and I was like... how do you know (it's 3am rn and was still drawing a few mins ago lol)

[@multidebbie1]

Artists, crocheters, knitters literally anything that forces you to sit for a long time. Sit up straight, you can slouch for a few seconds to give some relief but still.

[@coalt]

I have a chair thats worth like 3 times as much as my standing desk. Get the desk first and see if you prefer standing. I never would have expected I prefer standing like 80% of the time. I'd have bought a less fancy chair.

[@CollourCrow]

Afther vacation me and my mother wil train efery day for 5 minnit to both stop schrimping So this video coundt be better timet

[@w31rd08]

0:13 *vine boom* 👀 0:15 *vine boom* 😅 (currently lying on side) 0:19 *vine boom* 😳 *lays straight* I will (try to) remember this 🥲

[@ariadnaavalosagurto9046]

200 dollars is the salary in my country. i think :( i'm going to stick with the plastic one. pipipipipipi jejejjejejej

[@anymousecandraw]

i don't have a chair... now what?

[@ilovekatzzzz]

I don’t sit up when I draw, I lay down, in my bed, because I draw with my finger and phone

[@Weretherats.]

Anyone notice there’s atleast 9 Kirbys in the background

[@cats_n_cream2145]

Jokes on you I don't sit like a shrimp I lay down like a shrimp 🗿

[@Gimmestellas]

Read the thumbnail again without HR in " SHRIMP"

[@WOLF_but_a_dead_one]

Oh, ok now I realize

[@LeNa01201]

Stop simp like this

[@Ali0_11]

lol

[@ZiptoZapto]

Cries in the fact that I don't have a desk or anything and have been doing everything on my bed and the floor. I know its not good for my posture, I just don't have a better option right now. At least I have an amazing back pillow, but my butt hurts like all the time now. Also doesn't help that I can't get my laptop screen to sit high enough to where I'm not angling my neck to some degree-

[@donnyshields4450]

I'm laying in a bed

[@thebloodyarchon5013]

What's in that red box, Jessie? 👀

[@paulwoodford1984]

chiropractors are a waste of money and time. They did nothing for my back. i helped myself by purchasing a firm foam roller and a back stretcher to lay on

[@Keni2431]

If I can’t shrimp that’s mean I just look up and too draw

[@nygamery]

One of the rare instances where the person looks just like their character.

[@Pavelscribbles]

I lay on my stomach lmao

[@mr.pickles9791]

As a turkish person, 1 dolar is equates to 30 ₺ at the time i'm writing this. I guess, i'll be a damn shrimp

[@abottleofegnog]

Not so shrimple now

[@Veronica-ry2qc]

there's a child lock on the table 😐

[@soggytaco-w2w]

I sit worse than a shrimp

[@shymarina4189]

0:04 You'er very beautiful and im glad to see your face Jessie!!😊

[@tycathedrawer]

Yea but I’m lazyy :[