Hands !!!

[NaTe J]

Why is it that i cant draw hands for nothin' !? Could somebody please direct me to a site with endless hand references? (if there is such a site) If not, any tips would be great

Thanks

[jester]

You've got perfect reference right on you! Your own hand! For different views use a mirror, or even two mirrors! Think of your fingers as matchsticks, this helps some people. And draw hands whenever you feel like drawing. It takes a while, but you'll get there (same applies to feet!)

Jester

[NaTe J]

Thanks for the tip but ive tried it and then when i try to draw it it looks all ghetto. I guess it will just come with practice :(

I cant draw it when i just look at my hand but maybe ill try taking a picture of my hand. But then my friends might think im wierd. hahaha

[jester]

Or take photos of their hands (they'll think you even weirder! ;) - or, if you don't dare that, take photos of your family's hands.

There's quite a good book on hands by Burne Hogarth, Drawing Dynamic Hands and Feet which is available from amazon.

Jester

[NaTe J]

Thanks jester. Ill check it out

[NaTe J]

Thanks again jester for telling me about that book. i think im gonna have to buy it now :)

[jester]

You're welcome! :)

Jester

[Pie_Sites]

I registered on this site mainly to help you man, i have bin having trouble with hands as well recently, but i found if you look at your hand like recommended in the last posts, then draw a basic shape, say like your drawing a fist then you have a choice you can either draw an elipse (which I find best) or a square, and then make sure that you fill the box/elipse and touch all the sides atleast once with every part of the hand for example the side of the hand will touch the side of the box/elipse once and then curve appropriatley, and the knuckles will also take shape, some will touch the box/elipse outlines but some wont, it really depends on the hand ;).
But keep lookin at a picture of a hand, or your own hand I found it helps, hope my post helps ya man :).
Have Fun
Pie

[NaTe J]

Thanks Pie

I appreciate the tip. Not quite clear on exactly what u mean but i think i have an idea. Ill just keep practicing at it and i plan on getting that book soon. Thanks yall

[Chromo48]

I always found the best method to be the squares and rectangles. It sets you up for a 3D approach right away. Don't worry about all those intricate contour changes for now, that will eventually come. Just look at your hand and translate it onto paper using rectangles for the fingers and a box for the palm. Don't even worry about the knuckles now.

Once you have the basic shape and form of the hand down, you can go ahead and put the knuckles and bones and skin folds in.

Do a truckload of these in different poses. Before you know it you'll be drawing hands like someone who is good at drawing hands.

[NaTe J]

thx chromo, ill have to give that a try;)

[sandman]

This is a good online reference- Drawing the Head and Hands by Andrew Loomis. The book is also viewable in slideshow mode (chapter on hands starts on page lms 118);

http://elmo.academyart.edu/gallery/albums.php

David

[sagerussell]

bridgman has a book "100 hands" or something like that. Study anatomically and rythmically so you understand the masses that make up a hand and how they work together. remember: our world is made up of forms comprised of masses, which are defined by planes... which are only incidentally revealed by line.

[diagetus]

NaTeJ the hand is one of the most complex structures to sculpt. I'd say it's right up there with facial features. I completely agree with sagerussell. He said it nicely. The underlying form is important when dealing with the body. You should try sculpting the hand. Why? because some of us are tactile learners and not just visual learners. This is how I learned and I continue to find it an effective method. I would recommend Bridgman and Hogarth, but get "Human Anatomy for Artists - The Elements of Form" by Eliot Goldfinger. The book is a good investment and I'm very critical about instructional texts. It has a section on hands.

[PaK-RaT]

Hello everyone :)

This is my first post on these boards, seems like a nice place to learn about drawing and stuff :P

here, I hope this is of some help to all of you looking for hands and feet ref.

http://www.easel3d.net/downloads/hands+feet.zip

lemme know if the link doesnt work or something. I think i have limited bandwidth.

[NaTe J]

hey guys thanks for the replies. its been a while since i first posted the question and by now im drawing hands pretty well.:D now my problem is with faces. :(