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hand study

observational drawing
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by JuliannaKunstler.com

Observational drawing of a hand. Lesson.

materials used:

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sulphite 90lb

drawing pencil B

ebony pencil 12

white erasers

gum erasers

cleaner

STEPS

step 1

hand

Hold a pencil in your hand.

Place your hand on the table in front of you.

Rest your elbow on the table - your hand should be relaxed.

Visually mark the dimensions of your hand and the pencil.

Find the highest, lowest points, the most right and left points.

draw hand proportions
start

Marking these dimensions on your paper will define the area where you are going to "fit" the drawing of your hand.

This is like planning a house construction on a lot - you need to make sure the house will fin on the lot, it is not too small or too big. It will also help you with determining the proportions of your hand.

step 2

Mark the curved line that divides your hand into the two parts: palm and fingers.

Compare the two parts - which one is bigger?

Use your other pencil (the one you're drawing with) to measure the parts.

Mark the fingertips and the wrist line. Again, use your drawing pencil to measure the angle of the lines.

hand proportions фтв фтпдуы
sketch

Now you have the necessary guides to start drawing the hand.

Mark the palm point.

These are the marks you have at this time:

hand drawing

step 3

Find all important points :

  • All joints - knuckles
  • Fingertips
hand key points
marking points

Mark them all.

Compare the positions of the points.

step 4

If you connect all important points with straight lines - What would be the angles of these lines?

Use you drawing pencil to measure.

hand sketch
drawing a hand

Start defining the fingers.

step 5

What is the angle of your pencil?

hand and pencil
hand drawing

Mark the pencil angle with a line - use your drawing pencil to measure it.

Them start drawing the pencil itself.

step 6

Define the thumb. See how far the muscle goes....

sketching
hand drawing

Copy the shapes that you see onto your drawing.

Continue defining the shapes.

Add details.

...