They seem simple, they are basically a thing with fingers sticking out. And a thumb.
This can't be that hard, can it?
Well then why do we struggle so with drawing hands? I've seen so many people draw whole figures and then get to the hands and either:
- Draw these tiny tiny out-of-proportion hands because they get all focused in on them
- Leave them off entirely, creating somewhat of a horror-movie effect
- Draw a flat hand where it doesn't fit, because darnit there's a hand. There.
Well, here's how do draw hands: Don't draw a hand.
Don't draw a hand at all. Seriously.
Okay, so then what ARE you supposed to draw?
You draw whatever that shape is that seems to be located at the end of your figure's arm. Just don't call it a hand.
Here's a hand:
That is not a thing with fingers sticking out.
Here's another hand:
Wow, that one's weird. That's someone holding up a book. Doesn't even have all the fingers.
See what I mean? Hands don't look like hands.
So try this: The next time you want to draw a hand, banish the word "hand" from your mind and simply follow the shapes around. I guarantee you'll get something far more hand-like than you expect.
Try just following the outline around the outside, for example. And no saying "fingers," either. You have to lose the thing-ness of what you are drawing to really get to what it looks like.
So, don't draw a hand. Or fingers. Just shapes and lines. See how it goes! And enjoy.
