How to draw hands

The basic shape of the palm looks like this.

Each finger is divided up into three cylindrical sections, apart from the thumb which only has two.

Once you've got a hang of drawing an open hand, start to move the position of the fingers, whilst keeping the shape of the palm generally the same.

To create different poses, start by just bending the fingers slightly.

Here is another example of a different type of hand position I use regularly in my work. Use these as a handy reference set to help you get to grips with drawing hands.

When drawing a fist you can't see the whole finger.

Use these examples to practice drawing different types of clenched hands.

Here are a few more examples of different hand positions.

In all these examples the shape of the palm is always the same.