How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (2024)

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1Measurements in Drawing a Hand

2Drawing Using Basic 3-Dimensional Shapes

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Co-authored byRenée Plevy

Last Updated: April 3, 2024References

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Lots of people have trouble drawing hands, but it isn't too complicated once you know what to do. Drawing a realistic hand can mean either getting the proportions correct through measurement, or by using 3-dimensional shapes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Measurements in Drawing a Hand

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  1. How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (4)

    1

    Study and learn the measurements of the hand and its parts.

  2. How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (5)

    2

    The hand is about the same length as the face from chin to forehead.

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  3. How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (6)

    3

    Start by sketching a rounded square.

  4. How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (7)

    4

    Sketch a triangle for the base of the thumb and the wireframe for the fingers.

  5. How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (8)

    5

    Sketch rectangles for each finger segment and spheres for joints to build the hand shape

  6. How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (9)

    6

    Draw the outline using the sketch as a guide.

  7. How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (10)

    7

    Erase and remove the sketch marks and add color.

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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Drawing Using Basic 3-Dimensional Shapes

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  1. How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (12)

    1

    Sketch a box to serve as the main shape of the palm and add a wedge on one side to serve as the base for the thumb.

  2. How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (13)

    2

    Sketch a circle for each finger that will connect to the palm.[1]

  3. How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (14)

    3

    Sketch cylinders and spheres to build the shape of each finger.

  4. How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (15)

    4

    Sketch the shape of the hand using the basic shapes as a guide.

  5. How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (16)

    5

    Draw the outline over the sketch to finalize the drawing.[2]

  6. How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (17)

    6

    Erase and remove the sketch marks.

  7. How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (18)

    7

    Add color.

    • To become a good artist, you need to see things with an artist's eye.
    • Find a teacher who can help you observe things and draw better.[3]
    • Do plenty of sketches to gain practice.[4]
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  • Question

    How do I draw a female hand specifically?

    How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (19)

    Community Answer

    It's mostly the same, but on average, the hand and fingers will be a little thinner. Everybody's hands are different, though, and they will tend to differ depending on body type (e.g., thinner people will tend to have thinner hands; shorter people will tend to have shorter hands and fingers). The best way to really learn is to look at and copy photographs of different male hands and different female hands.

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    Not Helpful 11Helpful 42

  • Question

    How do I draw an anime hand?

    How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (20)

    Community Answer

    Draw a hand, but make the fingers slightly thinner and make the edges more pointed.

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  • Question

    How can I draw a realistic hand?

    How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (21)

    Community Answer

    Observe your hand carefully, taking note of where the light hits it, the shape, and tone of your hand, then try to draw that. Then practice!!

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      Tips

      • Keep a steady hand, it will help!

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      • Look at your own hand, or someone else’s, throughout the process. It’ll appear different from the hand in the example illustrations, of course, but it’s a good reference point and it always helps to have a three-dimensional model of what you’re trying to put on paper.

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      • Draw lightly in pencil so that you can easily rub out mistakes.

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      About This Article

      How to Draw a Hand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (29)

      Co-authored by:

      Renée Plevy

      Portrait Artist & Educator

      This article was co-authored by Renée Plevy. Renée Plevy is an Internationally Acclaimed Portrait Artist from New York/Palm Beach who has painted The Grand Dames of Palm Beach and various celebrities and community leaders. With over 50 years of experience, Renée specializes in painting realistically in oil and capturing the soul of the person. She has studied under internationally renowned portrait artists John Howard Sanden, David Leffel, Robert Beverly Hale, Clyde Smith, and Leonid Gervits. Renée is featured in over 68 shows and galleries including a one-woman museum show at the Paterson Museum. She has garnered numerous awards including “Artist of the Year” from The Bloomfield Art League and First Prize from the Boca Raton Museum Artist’s Guild. Renée has even painted a portrait of celebrity, Vanilla Ice. She also teaches at the Boca Raton Museum Art School - formerly at SVA in Manhattan. This article has been viewed 521,586 times.

      29 votes - 43%

      Co-authors: 39

      Updated: April 3, 2024

      Views:521,586

      Categories: Drawing Body Parts

      Article SummaryX

      To draw a hand, start by lightly sketching a rounded square, then add a triangle for the base of the thumb and the wireframe for the fingers. Next, sketch rectangles for each finger segment and draw spheres for the joints. Remember to sketch lightly! Then, using your sketched outline as a guide, darken the lines to complete the hand and erase the sketch marks around your final drawing. For tips on using 3-D shapes to draw a hand, read on!

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