How To Draw Prayer Hands
For thousands of years, the human race has found solace in prayer. It has become a way of connecting with what we believe to be higher power and can be done through the simple act of placing two hands together. Drawing the common position of prayer hands is a relatively easy task, with just a few steps necessary to create a realistic representation.
Drawing prayer hands starts with outlining the position of the arms and hands. Begin by drawing the arms of the figure, bent slightly at the elbow and appearing in a circular shape, as if held together in a hug. This should be done with light pencil strokes, as the positioning will determine the angle of the hands. Once the arms have been properly done, the fingers need to be added. Outline each of the fingers lightly, starting with the thumb and index finger, before connecting the adjacent fingers. Doing this should form a ‘V’ shape, in the middle of which is a void space – representing the palms of the hands.
Details are the key to completing the prayer hands drawing – specifically, how the fingers are positioned. It is important to note that prayer hands do not show the fingers all tightly pressed together, as if in a fist; rather, the fingers should appear slightly separated, making it appear as if the person’s hands are cupped. Make sure the details of the hand are properly outlined in a realistic manner to make the drawing appear more lifelike.
When the hands are finished, incorporate shading to the drawing. With a heavier stroke of the pencil, shade around the contours of the hands to give the drawing depth and make it appear more realistic. Additionally, highlighting and outlining the details of the fingers will add further quality to the overall drawing. To really make the drawing stand out, use a darker pencil to create light shadows in the regions between the fingers and the arm. This will emphasize the connotation of peace and solace that prayer hands symbolize.
Adding a note of color to the drawing will really add to the overall effect. Doing so will bring the drawing to life in a manner that cannot be achieved through regular pencil drawings. Choose a gentle tone of color, such as a light blue, and use it to fill the drawing, whilst maintaining the different shades of grey in the pencil drawing. As an additional step, appreciate details such as the fingernails, rings, and other jewelry.
The traditional prayer hands drawing can be crafted by simply outlining the two arms and hands in a slightly curved ‘V’ shape before detailing the fingers. By taking note of the gaps between the arms and the gaps between the fingers, the contours of the drawing fall into place. To complete the drawing, add shading and highlight the details. Adding a subtle note of color will also help to make the prayer hands drawing all the more realistic.
Creating a realistic looking, empathetic prayer hands drawing is as easy as following a few simple steps. To bring the drawing to life, patience and detail are key – something that will amaze not only the artist, but anyone who views the drawing. Emotionally connecting with the drawing will add to its charm, reinforcing the meaning of prayer in a subtle, yet powerful manner. In a matter of a few minutes and with a few light strokes of the pencil, the beauty of prayer hands can be invoked.
