Demystifying Freehand With 144artist
Laying the Ground Work.
It may sound obvious but if you can’t see the detail you can’t really paint the detail. I’ve always been near sighted but as I have aged my eyes have become less flexible and seeing fine detail up close has become difficult. There are any number of solutions to this that I actually resisted for sometime despite wearing glasses for most of my life. The loss of my ability to really see fine detail was gradual and caused me to be frustrated painting anything which is the opposite reaction one wants when pursuing creativity. I had to get over whatever pride or fear of aging I had and just find tools to help. Once I did, WOW! It was like being born again, all that frustration replaced with inspired energy. So I thought I would start with some of the things I’ve tried in case it helps someone else.
These clip-ons were handy for seeing detail but with only one eye didn't help with depth. Bonus for looking very Steam Punk though.
These came from my local hardware store. Fairly lightweight, inexpensive and some versions have replaceable lens. I got tired of the strap around my head after a while but this is minor.
Necron099 pointed me in the direction of this high tech beauty. It was the most expensive (around $30) of the things I've tried. Very versatile.
Has its own light with some vertical directional adjustment. Very nice to be able to point light right into the area you are working. 
It comes with five different lens and an optional headband which I prefer to keep in the box. All this versatility comes with a cost in weight, however.
3X magnifier reading glasses from my local pharmacy. Cheapest option ($5), lightweight, fit right over my prescription glasses.The steam punk clip-ons looked cool but were limited in how much they helped over all. Each of the others had strengths and weaknesses but in the end it is the cheap reading glasses worn right over my prescription glasses that I default to now days. No matter what you decide works best for you, or even if you don’t need any ocular aid, remember to take breaks from time to time and let your eyes rest. This level of focus is hard work and you’re allowed to feel tired afterward.
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