# PAINTING:VIDEO:Using a Stylus in Early Painting Layers **URL:** \ **Category:** Tutorials\ **Created:** [February 12, 2017, 11:51pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129 "2017-02-12T23:51:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AWaichulis](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/awaichulis/32/2859_2.png) [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 11:51pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/1 "2017-02-12T23:51:45Z")
Here is a 15 minute(+/-) demonstration of how I use a stylus in the earliest stages of a painting. Such tools can be very useful for generating constructions and guidelines. https://player.vimeo.com/video/203741583 **UPDATE: 7/1/2020: Replaced original video with a higher-res version.** ---
**Author:** ![LWaichulis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/LWaichulis)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 10:38am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/2 "2017-02-18T10:38:49Z")
Great tip! I’m curious to give this a try in a higher detailed area.Thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TonyL](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/tonyl/32/287_2.png) [@TonyL](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/TonyL)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/3 "2017-03-03T16:33:30Z")
Is the stylus you’re using one you made? I can’t find one that holds like a pen and now that I’ve seen that one I’m convinced I need the same 🙂 Looking online is hard because its mostly for electronic devices. The ones I’ve seen at the art store aren’t really “pen” like and are more for sculpting and not perfectly straight. Woodworking/ceramic/scratchboard ones also have rounded edges. I’ll keep looking but it you had a link/source I’d be grateful. Thanks 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AWaichulis](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/awaichulis/32/2859_2.png) [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2017, 4:54pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/4 "2017-03-03T16:54:50Z")
Hi Tony—yes, the ones that I used in the video were ones that I had made\modified. Let me see if I can find the ones I bought to modify. I’ll share the links here. ---
**Author:** ![nancifrance](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/nancifrance/32/253_2.png) [@nancifrance](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/nancifrance)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:55pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/5 "2017-04-04T14:55:46Z")
Hi Tony…just watched this video. It was awesome. Where can I get a stylus like yours? I am having the same problem tonyL is having. They don’t look like yours or appear to do the same thing:( ---
**Author:** ![AWaichulis](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/awaichulis/32/2859_2.png) [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 12:53pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/6 "2017-04-05T12:53:14Z")
I’ll gather up the sources for the ones I have today Nanci and post them here. ---
**Author:** ![JohnLivesey](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/johnlivesey/32/172_2.png) [@JohnLivesey](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/JohnLivesey)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/7 "2017-05-30T20:18:05Z")
I was sure I’d already clicked like in the post. Stuggling with the lines so thought rewatch. See if I missed anything. ---
**Author:** ![natalie1486071](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/natalie1486071/32/986_2.png) [@natalie1486071](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/natalie1486071)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2017, 3:23am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/13 "2017-12-12T03:23:32Z")
That was fascinating! Thank you so much for sharing the video! Terrific information-- looking forward to trying this. Much thanks!!! ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_power](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/sandra_power/32/931_2.png) [@sandra\_power](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/sandra_power)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 6:28am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/14 "2017-12-24T06:28:56Z")
Super helpful. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_power](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/sandra_power/32/931_2.png) [@sandra\_power](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/sandra_power)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/15 "2017-12-27T22:13:35Z")
I ordered a scratchboard stylus from Blicks. It might work but it looked a bit clumsy to use. The stylus is extra long. I’m awaiting delivery but I’ll update when I get to use it. ---
**Author:** ![AWaichulis](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/awaichulis/32/2859_2.png) [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 2:18pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/18 "2017-12-29T14:18:12Z")
The link was definitely broken so I removed the comment. Hopefully @TonyL might have another one? ---
**Author:** ![TonyL](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/tonyl/32/287_2.png) [@TonyL](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/TonyL)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/19 "2018-01-02T19:11:56Z")
I can’t see from this chain what link was broken. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![AWaichulis](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/awaichulis/32/2859_2.png) [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 7:21pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/20 "2018-01-02T19:21:45Z")
Hey @TonyL—it was this link: [http://shop.excelblades.com/p/needle-point-hobby-awl/shop-by-product\_aluminum-tools\_scribes?pp=12](http://shop.excelblades.com/p/needle-point-hobby-awl/shop-by-product_aluminum-tools_scribes?pp=12) ---
**Author:** ![TonyL](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/tonyl/32/287_2.png) [@TonyL](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/TonyL)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/21 "2018-01-03T13:47:03Z")
[https://www.dickblick.com/products/excel-aluminum-hobby-awl/](https://www.dickblick.com/products/excel-aluminum-hobby-awl/) This is the one I have. ---
**Author:** ![AWaichulis](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/awaichulis/32/2859_2.png) [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/22 "2018-01-03T13:47:53Z")
Awesome!!! Thanks Tony~~~ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_power](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/sandra_power/32/931_2.png) [@sandra\_power](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/sandra_power)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 5:22am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/23 "2018-01-08T05:22:13Z")
Thanks for the link. I previously had searched Blick for " stylus". Now, I see I should have used the word “awl” …I have it on order. Yay! ---
**Author:** ![TonyL](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/tonyl/32/287_2.png) [@TonyL](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/TonyL)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 4:41pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/24 "2018-01-08T16:41:21Z")
Hope it helps! ---
**Author:** ![TonyL](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/tonyl/32/287_2.png) [@TonyL](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/TonyL)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/25 "2018-09-26T17:26:56Z")
Would you use a stylus inside circle template in a similar way to make completely precise circles? ---
**Author:** ![AWaichulis](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/awaichulis/32/2859_2.png) [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/paintingusing-a-stylus-in-early-painting-layers/129/26 "2018-09-27T01:45:27Z")
Definitely Tony! Although I often use a compass or a set of dividers for circles.