<p>A historical reason for having writing desks at an incline was that quill pens work better that way. If you ever tried writing with a quill and ended up with a blotchy mess instead of some nice calligraphy, part of the reason was probably that you were writing on a horizontal surface, and thus were holding the pen pretty close to vertical. The closer to vertical the pen, the better the ink flows, but if the ink flows too quickly, you get blotches. If you raise your writing surface at an incline, your pen flattens out, and it's easier to write evenly and without blotches.</p>

<p>But the main reason for using a slanted surface is ergonomics: instead of curling your head over the paper and holding your pen (or other implement) in a death-grip, a slanted surface brings the paper closer to your face -- thus less neck fatigue -- and makes it easier to write/draw with your arm and shoulder instead of your wrist. (Note that the ergonomic advantage is easily lost if you don't sit at an appropriate distance -- too far and you'll need to bend in odd ways to reach, too close and you'll be cramping your elbow and shoulder.)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-01T02:07:29.543Z
2016-06-01T02:07:29.543Z
Martha
<p>For me having the angle helps with fatigue and body aches after I’m finished working on a piece. I often get zoned in and lose time when I’m drawing, sometimes I sit at my desk and put on music and the first time I look at the clock it might be 12-13 hours I’ve been fixated on an idea, or 12 hours simply trying to make a hand look realistic haha. My Girlfriend finally got me into a routine where I have to have at least 6 bottles of water before I sit down, and I have to have my phone set to give an alarm every 2 hours so I can stand up and stretch. You never realize the toll it takes on you physically until your back is spasming for two days and you’re so dehydrated that you shed half the skin off your lips ugh. I also have had ADD since I was a kid so I’ll usually take my Adderall before I start drawing and that only compounds the hyper focusing.</p>
<p>And that was an ADD rant for you, sorry haha. Yes, the architect drafting table helps your bones when you’re not slouched over for hours.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-20T19:14:49.013Z
2021-05-20T19:14:49.013Z
Remy
<p>I grew up using normal desks in school and drawing in art class on tables. I have drawn on tables for most of my projects, but every artists desk has a lift to it.</p>

<p>What is the purpose of the varying angles of lift to the desk? Is this just a matter of ergonomics or is there some advantage to the artist to drawing on an angle?</p>

<p>If it were an ergonomic consideration you'd think a writer's desk would look the same, but almost all other desks are flat with the exception of drawing desks.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/xEtWd.jpg"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/xEtWd.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-02T16:04:42.693Z
The school desks I grew up with were angled, and pictures of medieval monastic scribes show them with angled writing stands (or whatever the technical term for them is). For dry art work and technical drawing there are obvious advantages to an angled writing surface; you do not have to change the angle you hold the writing/drawing instrument at as much as with a horizontal surface, and there is less perspectival distortion of the work.
Conrad Turner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-02T16:09:39.590Z
@ConradTurner you should write that as an answer.
Jay
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-03T07:38:56.053Z
Is it OK for me to add a tag to this question: calligraphy?
Kit Johnson
<drawing><tool-selection><sketching>
What is the advantage of having an angled drawing desk?
leigero
# What is the advantage of having an angled drawing desk?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-05-02)

I grew up using normal desks in school and drawing in art class on tables. I have drawn on tables for most of my projects, but every artists desk has a lift to it.

What is the purpose of the varying angles of lift to the desk? Is this just a matter of ergonomics or is there some advantage to the artist to drawing on an angle?

If it were an ergonomic consideration you'd think a writer's desk would look the same, but almost all other desks are flat with the exception of drawing desks.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/xEtWd.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/xEtWd.jpg)

**Tags:** drawing, tool-selection, sketching

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The school desks I grew up with were angled, and pictures of medieval monastic scribes show them with angled writing stands (or whatever the technical term for them is). For dry art work and technical drawing there are obvious advantages to an angled writing surface; you do not have to change the angle you hold the writing/drawing instrument at as much as with a horizontal surface, and there is less perspectival distortion of the work.  
> **username_2**: @ConradTurner you should write that as an answer.  
> **username_3**: Is it OK for me to add a tag to this question: calligraphy?  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-06-01. Score: 6

A historical reason for having writing desks at an incline was that quill pens work better that way. If you ever tried writing with a quill and ended up with a blotchy mess instead of some nice calligraphy, part of the reason was probably that you were writing on a horizontal surface, and thus were holding the pen pretty close to vertical. The closer to vertical the pen, the better the ink flows, but if the ink flows too quickly, you get blotches. If you raise your writing surface at an incline, your pen flattens out, and it's easier to write evenly and without blotches.

But the main reason for using a slanted surface is ergonomics: instead of curling your head over the paper and holding your pen (or other implement) in a death-grip, a slanted surface brings the paper closer to your face -- thus less neck fatigue -- and makes it easier to write/draw with your arm and shoulder instead of your wrist. (Note that the ergonomic advantage is easily lost if you don't sit at an appropriate distance -- too far and you'll need to bend in odd ways to reach, too close and you'll be cramping your elbow and shoulder.)


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### Answer by username_5 on 2021-05-20. Score: 2

For me having the angle helps with fatigue and body aches after I’m finished working on a piece. I often get zoned in and lose time when I’m drawing, sometimes I sit at my desk and put on music and the first time I look at the clock it might be 12-13 hours I’ve been fixated on an idea, or 12 hours simply trying to make a hand look realistic haha. My Girlfriend finally got me into a routine where I have to have at least 6 bottles of water before I sit down, and I have to have my phone set to give an alarm every 2 hours so I can stand up and stretch. You never realize the toll it takes on you physically until your back is spasming for two days and you’re so dehydrated that you shed half the skin off your lips ugh. I also have had ADD since I was a kid so I’ll usually take my Adderall before I start drawing and that only compounds the hyper focusing.

And that was an ADD rant for you, sorry haha. Yes, the architect drafting table helps your bones when you’re not slouched over for hours.


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