proportions of a hand

7/29/2019 Proportions of a Hand

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PROPORTIONSOF A

Brenda Hoddinott

H-02 BEGINNER: FOCUS ON PEOPLE

This project offers simple step-by-step illustrated

instructions, to guide aspiring artists through the

process of outlining a proportionately correct adult

human hand.

Human hands are without doubt very anatomicallyintricate, but not nearly as difficult to draw as many

artists assume. The process of drawing a hand becomes

less intimidating when you understand how to render

the proportions properly, and can draw the fundamental

shapes of the various parts in their correct places.

Drawing supplies needed include good quality white paper, different grades of graphite pencils

(such as HB and 2B), kneaded and vinyl erasers, a pencil sharpener and a sandpaper block.

This lesson is comprised of the following three sections:

INTRODUCTION: Hands come in various shapes and sizes depending on different factors,such as the persons size, age, and gender; yet the overall proportions are very similar.

PUTTING PROPORTIONS ON PAPER: Setting up accurate proportions is the

foundation of drawing hands. Fingers make up approximately half the total length of a hand.

OUTLINING THE FORMS OF A HAND: In this section, you outline the hand with thin

neat lines by constantly referring to the illustrations and your own hand.

This project is recommended for artists from age 12 to adult, as well as home

schooling, academic and recreational fine art educators.

1 2 PAGES 1 9 I LLUSTRATI ONSPublished by Hoddinott Fine Art Publishers, Halifax, NS, Canada Revised 2006


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Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and maynot be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.

E-mail [email protected] Web sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com

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I NTRODUCTI ON

Human hands are without doubt very anatomically intricate, but not nearly as difficult to draw as

many artists assume. The process of drawing a hand becomes less intimidating when you

understand how to render the overall proportions properly, and can draw the basic shapes of the

various parts in their correct places.Proportion is the relationship in size of one component of adrawing to another or others.Shape refers to the outward outline of a form. Basic shapes include

circles, squares and triangles.

The most common inaccuracy when drawing hands is making the main section of the hand too

short in relation to the length of the fingers. Have a close look at one of your own hands.

Measure the distance between the tip of the longest finger down to its base connects to the

main section of the hand (Mine is 3.2 inches).

Then, measure the hand from where the fingers attach to the hand to the section of the wrist

where the base of the thumb ends (Mine is 3.4 inches).

The two distances are very similar; hence, fingers make up approximately half the total length ofa hand.

Examine the three drawings of hands in the next illustration. Imagine each hand open to a point

where you can compare the length of the fingers to the length of the main section of the hand.

Again the distances are approximately the same. Therefore, when drawing a hand keep in mind

that the length of the longest finger is similar to the length of the main section of the hand.

ILLUSTRATION 02-01
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The illustrations and instructions in this lesson will be based on an average sized hand. However,

hands come in various shapes and sizes depending on lots of different factors, including the

persons size, age, and gender; yet the overall proportions are very similar.

In the next drawings examine three variations of hands and compare each to the rectangular

sketch beside it.

Which of the three hands in Illustrations 02-02 to 02-04 most closely resembles the overall

shape of your hand?

ILLUSTRATION 02-02

To draw a hand that is short, your sketch

will be based on a rectangle divided into two

squares of the same size (Illustration 02-02).

ILLUSTRATION 02-03

A drawing of an average hand begins with a

longer rectangle divided into two same sized

short rectangles (Illustration 02-03).

ILLUSTRATION 02-04

A slender hand with long fingers is based on

a slightly longer rectangle divided into two

equal rectangles (Illustration 02-04).

Consider using your ownhand as the model for this lesson. If youare left handed, its easier to draw yourright hand, and if you are right handedtry drawing your left.


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PUTTI NG PROPORTI ONS ON PAPER

Setting up accurate proportions is the foundation of drawing hands. If the length of the longest

finger when compared to the length of the hand is drastically different, your proportions may be

incorrect; hence, no amount of beautiful shading can then save your drawing.

If you are drawing your own hand, constantly examine it as you work; use my illustrations asguidelines only. Also, my drawing is of my left hand; if you are drawing your right hand, the

whole hand, including the fingers and thumb, will be in reverse.

1) Use an HB pencil and very lightly sketch a vertical rectangle to represent the overallshape of a hand (refer to Illustration 02-05).

2) Divide the rectangle in half to mark the point where the base of the fingers meets themain section of the hand.

3) Sketch the three largest fingers as in Illustration 02-06.ILLUSTRATION 02-05 ILLUSTRATION 02-06

I often use

straight (rather

than curved)

lines to establish

the proportions

of hands.

Pay attention to

the lengths of

the fingers andthe position of

each in relation

to the others.

If you are

drawing from

my sketch, use

the sides of the

upper rectangle,

as well as

positive and

negative spacesto help you

measure

proportions.

The thumb will

be added later.


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Place a piece of clean paper under your hand as you draw (better thedrawer than the drawee!). Each time you work on a new section, remember to moveyour paper so its always under your hand. This prevents you from smudging yourdrawing, and protects the paper from the oils in your skin.

4) Lightly sketch the little finger (refer to Illustration 02-07).5) Outline the edge of the hand that is on the same side as the little finger.6) Sketch two lines to represent the outside edges of the wrist as in Illustration 02-08.

ILLUSTRATION 02-07 ILLUSTRATION 02-08


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ILLUSTRATION 02-09

7) Sketch the outline of the thumb as inIllustration 02-09.

Pay special attention to tiny line where the

thumb is attached to the main section of

the hand.

Also, note the angle and the length of the

line where the base of the thumb attaches

to the wrist.

ILLUSTRATION 02-10

8) Add circular shapes to representthe joints of the four fingers as in

Illustration 02-10.

Examine your own fingers and take

note of the locations of each of the

joints.

9) Outline the locations of the fourknuckles with circular shapes.


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ILLUSTRATION 02-11

10) Sketch the outlines of the joints of thethumb and the partial segments of the

bones of the wrist as in Illustration 02-11.

Before you begin, take a moment and examineyour own knuckles, thumb, and wrist.

ILLUSTRATION 02-12

11) Use your kneaded eraser to pat all yoursketch lines until they are so faint that

you can barely see them (as in

Illustration 02-12).

OUTLI NI NG THE FORMS OF A HAND

In this section, you outline the hand with thin neat lines. Each of the circular shapes you sketched

in the last section represents an independent form. As you draw, constantly refer to my drawings

and your own hand to gain insights into why the lines need to curve around these forms.

Keep your pencils sharpened so your lines stay neat and thin.


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ILLUSTRATION 02-13

12) Use a 2B pencil to neatly outline the fingers,thumb, and wrist with curved lines.

In this section, you are challenged to heavily

rely on your visual skills; hence, text

instructions are kept to a bare minimum.

Constantly examine your own hand and refer

to the 7 step-by-step drawings (Illustrations

02-13 to 02-19).

ILLUSTRATION 02-14

As an artist, youneed to focus on improving yourability to identify the exteriorthree-dimensional forms of ahand, as defined by bones, fat,and muscles, which ultimately is

more important than memorizingthe anatomical names of thedifferent parts of a hand.


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ILLUSTRATION 02-15

Try using a piece of finesandpaper or a sandpaper block to keepyour pencil points nice and sharp.

Pencil sharpeners tend to wear downpencils very quickly.

ILLUSTRATION 02-16

When drawing a handfrom life, visually break down theoverall shape into smaller shapes asdefined by the individual forms ofthe main section of the hand and thefingers, thumb, and wrist.

Take note of the areas where thevarious parts, such as the fingersand thumb, bend or are extended oroutstretched.


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ILLUSTRATION 02-17

Draw slowly. Accuracy ismore important than speed. Your speedwill automatically improve the more youpractice drawing hands.

ILLUSTRATION 02-18

Confirm that theproportions are drawn correctly byexamining the positive spacesinside the perimeter of each part ofthe hand. Also check out the

shapes and sizes of the negativespaces behind the hand and inbetween each digit.


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ILLUSTRATION 02-19

When your drawing isfinished, compare it to

Illustration 02-19.If youre not happy with asection, simply erase it anddraw it again.

Erase any fingerprints,smudges, and/or sketchlines that you dont like withyour kneaded eraser moldedto a point (or a sharp edgeof your vinyl eraser).

Sign your name.

Put todays date on theback of your drawing,and then draw another100 hands!


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BRENDA HODDI NOTT - BI OGRAPHY

As a self-educated teacher, visual artist, portraitist, forensic artist, and illustrator, Brenda

Hoddinott utilizes diverse art media including graphite, technical pen, colored pencil, chalk

pastel, charcoal, cont crayon, and oil paints.

My philosophy on teaching art is to focus primarily on the

enjoyment aspects while gently introducing the technical and

academic. Hence, in creating a passion for the subject matter,

the quest for knowledge also becomes enjoyable.

>Brenda Hoddinott

proportions of a hand

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