Did you know that each hand consists of 27 bones and 34 muscles working together to enable finger and thumb movements? Hands are not only complex but vary in size and shape from person to person, making drawing them a real challenge. If you’ve already learned how to draw a face and a person, it’s time to tackle the intricacies of drawing hands.
In this step-by-step tutorial, even absolute beginners will be able to learn how to draw hands in just five simple steps. So grab your favorite digital drawing tool or a traditional drawing set, and let’s get started!
Step 1: Drawing the Palm of an Open Hand
To begin, deconstruct the hand into basic shapes. Start by drawing the lower palm, which forms a valley with the index finger and thumb. This shape resembles a slanted pentagon.
Next, add a transverse line to mark the transition from metacarpals to proximal phalanges. This line separates the area of the “mountains of Mercury, Sun, Saturn, and Jupiter” from the area of “the mountains of primary and secondary Mars and plain of Mars.”
Then, define the Thenar, also known as “the Mount Venus,” by drawing a slightly angled vertical line down the middle of the pentagon.
Congratulations! You have successfully drawn the open palm.
Step 2: Drawing a Thumb
Fingers are similar to the palm in terms of simplicity. For the thumb, draw the part between the joint that connects it to the palm and the joint where it bends. This area resembles a trapeze shape.
Next, draw the upper part of the thumb, which is thinner and includes the fingertip and fingernail. Connect the interphalangeal joint crease with the fingertip to complete the thumb drawing.
Great job! The basic shape of a thumb consists of two trapeze-like sections connected to each other.
Step 3: Drawing the Rest of the Fingers
With the thumb complete, it’s time to draw the remaining four fingers. Keep the shapes as simple as possible. Start by adding a simple outline for the pointer finger and marking the places where the intermediate and distal phalanges meet.
Follow the same technique for the other fingers, making sure to vary the length. The middle finger is typically the longest, followed by the pointer finger, ring finger, and pinky. Finally, connect the fingers to the palm.
Now you’ve successfully drawn a hand with an open upward-facing palm. Drawing hands in different poses will become easier once you master the basic shape.
Step 4: Practicing Different Hand Poses
Now that you’ve learned to draw the basic hand shape, you can experiment with different poses. For example, you can easily transform the hand into a fist by bending the finger shapes.
Start by drawing the proximal phalange of the thumb and connecting it to the Thenar and Hypothenar Eminence, also known as “the mount of Venus” and “the mount of moon.” Then, draw the intermediate phalange to depict the fingers bent in a fist.
To add a realistic touch, draw semicircular shapes for the nails and include a lunula, the crescent-shaped part of the nail.
Step 5: Adding Details
Once you’re satisfied with the basic hand shapes, it’s time to add some eye-catching details to your illustrations. Depending on the character you are creating, you can experiment with colors and even add jewels to the hands.
Remember, practice makes perfect. Take your time and continue to practice regularly until you’re happy with the results. Don’t be afraid to unleash your creativity and bring your characters to life with color!
We hope this step-by-step tutorial has made drawing hands less daunting for you. Feel free to leave a comment and let us know if you found it helpful. Happy drawing!
