Drawing Hands 101

Learning to draw hands is a crucial part of being able to sketch the human form. Hands, along with drawing faces, can be a daunting task, but we’re here to “give you a hand” with the simple tips below. What are you waiting for? Pick up a pencil and give it a go!

Before You Begin:

Take a look at your flat hand and note:

1. The length of the fingers is roughly equal to the length of the palm/back of hand.
2. The middle finger is the highest and forms the top of an arc comprised of the other fingers. All three sets of knuckles and joints follow the same arc.
3. The base of the thumb is a triangular shape attached to the side of the palm.
4. The palm is distributed evenly on both sides of the middle finger.

Let’s Sketch:

Once you’re done with your self-study, it’s time to begin sketching.

1. Begin by drawing the general shape of the palm or back of the hand as a square, slightly wider at the top than bottom.
2. Loosely add lines for the fingers, beginning with the middle fingers and arcing the others down around it.
3. Give the fingers some dimension by “boxing” them out—remember, fingers are actually more rectangular than circular.
4. Sketch the triangular base of the thumb on the same side of the palm as the index finger and add the thumb shape.
5. Add the details, including rounding the finger tips, adding finger nails, and sketching in knuckle and joint lines.

Once your students have mastered the basic hand, experiment with different compositions, including holding up one or two fingers or making a fist.

Have you taught your students how to draw hands? Do you have any tips or tricks to share with your fellow art teachers? Let us know in the comments below.