Drawing hands, or any body part for that matter, can be incredibly daunting. But by taking it step-by-step, it can be easier than you’d ever imagine! The trick is to break down the process, then build it up again – armed with a little patience and practice, you’ll be sketching amazing hands in no time.
Start With The Basic Shape
The most important part of learning how to draw a hand is to get the basic shape down. Start by envisioning the shape of the hand, from the thumb to the pinky. Making it a bit more realistic, think of all the magnificent curves the fingers and palms make. The hand is a beautiful shape – in comparison to a rigid box, try to draw something closer to a sweeping oval, with a round palm and knobby knuckles.
Pay Attention To The Details
Once you have the outlines down, it’s time to give your drawings more depth and personality. Take a few moments to observe your hands in real life and note down the prominent features. Do your fingers taper off to a point, do they become more bulbous? How big are your knuckles, and do they match the size of the other digits? As with any drawing, the more accurate details you add, the better the results.
Add Some Texture
This is the stage where your drawing will come alive – it’s all about adding texture and dimension with shadows and highlights. Suddenly, the blockish shapes you laid down conform to the curves of the hand and an alternate universe is born on paper. Is your hand bathed in sunlight or shadow? Do the wrinkles on the skin add interesting shadows, or does the hand possesses an almost velvety delicateness? All of these factors come into play when adding texture to a drawing.
Errors And Fixing Them
The most magical part of drawing is the ability to make mistakes – and to learn from them. If you feel like your drawing is skewed and lopsided, there may be an easy fix. Experiment with patterns and angles to adjust and balance the hand until you’re happy with the results. Redefine your drawing and make it more anatomically correct – practice makes perfect!
Playing With Color
With a sketch in hand, it’s time to add some color! Play with the contrasts to create beautiful gradients on the skin. Different pigments can give the hands a unique feel, from a subtle, natural ambience to a bold and bolder vibe. You could even go abstract and use a gradient of colors to further shape the hand. With color, the possibilities are endless – play with different mediums, from paints to pencils and pastels.
Getting Creative
When it comes to hands, the real magic is in getting creative. There are some really interesting techniques out there to try, like using strings of yarn or pieces of fabric to create an abstract representation of a hand. You can also explore finger painting to create snippets of art with a more tactile approach. Get creative, play with your media and have fun – the canvas is yours to create with.
Exaggerating And Embellishing
Of course, you don’t have to stay true to life – feel free to exaggerate and embellish your drawings to your heart’s content. Add some wild proportions and embellishments like wacky accessories for a dramatic effect. Try fusing pieces of nature like flowers and trees to your hands for a whimsical feel. Add some intricate lining to the palms or some cool tattoos – it’s totally up to you!
Wrapping Up
At the end of the day, the most important thing is to have fun and express yourself. Draw from the heart and you can’t go wrong. Take a deep breath, relax and get drawing – in no time you’ll be a pro at sketching hands in the most magical of ways.
