Step1: Preparing Your Materials
Before you even start sketching your skeleton hand, make sure you’ve got all the materials you need: something to draw with, paper or a canvas, an eraser for mistakes (trust us, you’ll need it!), and a reference image or inspirational photo.
Now, equip yourself with the proper Tools. A sharpened pencil, watercolor or colored pencil, a brush, and a good ol’ fashioned eraser.
Once you’ve got everything, you’re ready to start drawing!
Step 2: Visualizing the Skeleton Hand
Now it’s time to get creative. In this step, we’ll be visualizing our skeleton hand. And the best way to do this is to break it down.
Start by sketching a square outlined by three straight lines outside. Visualize the basic skeleton structure of the hand. As you do this, make sure to mark the joints and keep the hands and fingers in perspective.
Now it’s time to pay attention to the details. Start by outlining the fingers, make sure the spacing looks correct, and pay attention to the wrinkles that make up the back of our hand.
Once you’ve got the basic structure down, start adding the details. Ad real-life details to make your Skeleton Hand look alive.
Step 3: Refining and Adding Color
As you progress and become more comfortable with your drawing, begin refining and adding color. Refining the Skeleton Hand means adding more depth and perspective by playing around with the proportions and angles.
Once the Skeleton Hand is refined and detailed, start adding color. Look at reference images and photos and use them as your color palette.
Pay attention to shadows, highlights and reflexes as you’re painting. A good tip is to start with the darkest areas of the Hand and work your way up to lightest ones.
Step 4: Finishing Up and Say Goodbye
By now, you should be done with the painting process. Take a moment to reflect on your work and be proud of what you’ve created.
If you really want to take your Skeleton Hand to the next level, try adding texture and patterns. You could even make it a part of a larger composition or use it as the starting point for an entire artwork.
When you’re finally done, press that save button and admire your Skeleton Hand. Congratulations! You’ve just made your very own master piece.
Step 5: Analyzing Your Work and Going Further
After you’re done with your skeleton hand, try looking at it objectively. Do the proportions and spaces feel right? Are there areas that feel unfinished? Analyze your work and then make necessary adjustments.
To help you understand more about anatomy and figure drawing, try studying an actual skeleton. Take it a step further and use different rendering techniques, from pencil to paint.
Finally, keep practising. With enough patience and dedication, you’ll soon become a master of figure drawing.
Step 6: Expanding your Skillset
In order to become a true master of figure drawing, you should always be expanding your skillset.
You could take some online courses to understand how to use colour, learn how to make compositional elements feel alive, or even build an entire creative portfolio full of character studies.
For those of you more ambitious types, why not take a sculpture class or sign up for an anatomy workshop?
Not only will broadening your skillset help your figure drawing become more accurate, but it will also help you become a better artist.
Step 7: Enjoying the Process and Having Fun
Finally, the most important part of learning how to draw a skeleton Hand: Enjoyment! Grab a cup of your favorite beverage, choose your favorite music, and draw your favorite character.
Allow yourself to make mistakes, take a break if you’re feeling stuck, and don’t be afraid to experiment. After all, practise makes perfect!
As you keep practising and learning, you’ll eventually become a master of your craft. And who knows, one day you may even be good enough to teach others how to draw their own Skeleton Hands.
