It wobbles, tilts, or simply won’t stay in the position you want it to.

Sound familiar?  

In this article, I’ll share a few creative and unconventional tips on how to optimally support your plants and other painting objects using everyday household items you likely already have at home.

Why a Stable Base is So Important

You know the situation: you’ve got a beautiful flower, leaf, or maybe even a fruit in front of you, but instead of staying still, your painting object keeps tipping over.  

Especially when you’re working on botanical drawings or paintings, it’s crucial that your subject stays in the desired position.  

A shaky base can not only be frustrating but also distract you from the actual work.  

That’s why today, I want to show you how, with a bit of creativity and common kitchen tools, you can create a stable and practical support for your painting object.  

And the best part: you don’t have to buy anything new!

Kitchen Tools as Painting Helpers

Sugar Dispenser for Larger Flowers

Did you know that sugar dispensers can be incredibly useful not just in the kitchen but also in your studio?  

Larger flowers like tulips or irises fit perfectly into the opening of a sugar dispenser.  

The weight of the glass ensures that your object stays securely in place while also being watered, so the flower stays fresh longer and holds its perfect position.  

I discovered this trick myself during a workshop with Sophie Crossart.  

We were painting tulips, and in my search for a proper support, I stumbled over my sugar dispenser.  

And voilà – the tulip stood perfectly!

Since then, the sugar dispenser has become one of my favorite tools for supporting larger flowers or branches.

Salt and Pepper Shakers for Smaller Plants

For smaller plants like grasses, daisies, or stemmed leaves, salt and pepper shakers are ideal.  

The smaller openings provide these delicate plants with a secure hold and prevent them from toppling over.

Plus, the water inside keeps the plant fresh and lively while you paint it.  

The glass shakers are very stable due to their weight and are easy to use in your studio.  

They also bring a certain charm – the perfect blend of creativity and practicality!

Creative Fixing with Patafix and Kneaded Erasers

Patafix as a Magic Fix for Rolling Objects

It’s not just flowers—fruits or smaller objects can also be tricky to position.  

That’s where Patafix comes in handy.  

Place a small piece under your painting object, and everything stays where it should.

This is ideal for round or uneven objects that might otherwise roll away—like an apple.  

You can also use Patafix to slightly tilt containers to view and paint your subject from a different angle.  

This trick is not only incredibly practical but also super easy to apply!

Kneaded Erasers for Delicate Objects

Sometimes it’s not just about stabilizing an object, but also about protecting it from slipping without causing any damage.  

That’s where a kneaded eraser comes into play.  

In one of my earlier blog posts, I showed how I fixed a Swiss chard seed on a small piece of kneaded eraser to prevent it from slipping while I painted it.  

This trick is particularly good for delicate or small objects that could easily shift.  

You can check out the images here: Microcosm of Nature - Part 1.

Even More Creative Ideas

The possibilities for using everyday items creatively are nearly endless.  

In addition to salt and sugar shakers, there are many other tools you can repurpose:

• Glass toothbrush cups: 

  Perfect for larger stems or branches.

  Their firm stand and weight help stabilize heavy or long-stemmed objects.

• Masking tape:

  Great for fixing delicate plant stems without damaging them.

  Or you build a grid out of masking tape on top of a jar to place stems in it.

It’s worth exploring your kitchen or household to see which items could assist you in your painting process!  

A classic tool often used in painting to fix plants at eye level is a clamp (see image below). Also known as a “third hand.”  

It can be attached to your table or drawing board and has a flexible gooseneck, so you can position your object perfectly.  

Some of these can even be bought with a magnifying glass attachment.

Your Ideas Are Needed!

Now it’s your turn! What creative solutions have you found to stabilize your painting objects?  

Do you have a clever idea you’d like to share with the community?  

Feel free to write your tips and tricks in the comments.  

Together, we can all learn from each other and continue to optimize our painting process.  

I’m sure we can find many more ways to make our painting practice easier and more fun!  

Enjoy experimenting, and I look forward to hearing your creative solutions!

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