Hand Sketching Made Simpler - Drawing Tutorial

Jacquelin Vanderwood May 15, 2004   1 Learning to draw hands is not as difficult as imagined. a) First begin by drawing a foreshortened square for the top of the hand. b) Add in the foreshortened rectangle where the fingers will meet the hand. c) Sketch in the underlying unseen part of the hand as shown in the diagram below. d) For the thumb sketch out a semi triangle to the side of the hand. e) Add in the square for the end of the joint.  2 To designate the fingers, draw in circles as shown below for each finger. Make a U shape for the end of the fingers. (These sketches are totally freehand and a ruler was not used. You can, however, use a ruler to make straight lines.)   3 The next step in defining the fingers is connecting lines to the circles as detailed in the sketch below.   4 This method is a great way to sketch the mechanics of any hand. Use a model such as someone in the family, or use a mirror and sketch your own hand.   5 Try sketching the initial form of the hand with just lines as I have done below then add the tubes. Once you have perfected the art of sketching with lines and tubes, then it'll be easier to learn the muscles that shape the hand.     Copyright 1998-2004, Jacquelin Vanderwood, All Rights Reserved