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

  1. 1
    Study and learn the measurements of the hand and its parts.
  2. 2
    The hand is about the same length as the face from chin to forehead.
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  3. 3
    Start by sketching a rounded square.
  4. 4
    Sketch a triangle for the base of the thumb and the wireframe for the fingers.
  5. 5
    Sketch rectangles for each finger segment and spheres for joints to build the hand shape
  6. 6
    Draw the outline using the sketch as a guide.
  7. 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

  1. 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. 2
    Sketch a circle for each finger that will connect to the palm.[1]
  3. 3
    Sketch cylinders and spheres to build the shape of each finger.
  4. 4
    Sketch the shape of the hand using the basic shapes as a guide.
  5. 5
    Draw the outline over the sketch to finalize the drawing.[2]
  6. 6
    Erase and remove the sketch marks.
  7. 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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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How do I draw a female hand specifically?
    Community Answer
    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.
  • Question
    How do I draw an anime hand?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Draw a hand, but make the fingers slightly thinner and make the edges more pointed.
  • Question
    How can I draw a realistic hand?
    Community Answer
    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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About This Article

Renée Plevy
Co-authored by:
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 505,093 times.
16 votes - 44%
Co-authors: 39
Updated: November 24, 2022
Views: 505,093
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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