First things first, I'm going to draw a hand. I'm terrible at drawing hands so this may come out wonky. Also I'm not using a reference image, I'm just using my own hand.. minus some scars. For the tools, Bristol Board, Graphite Pencil (2b) and a smudging stick which is pretty much a bit of rolled up paper that art stores sell for 2 bucks each. It's a ripoff.
Anyway onto the tutorial.
- Start with a light circle. Mine has been darkened in photoshop. You do NOT want it to be dark and overtake the paper when it comes time to erase lines. I repeat PRESS LIGHT OR START OVER, that is all. After that take a look at your reference (Do not trace.) look at how the fingers are shaped, and make a square...ish shape to map out the fingers and direction. This may change, just start with it though.
- After that you're going to use small circles to map out your knuckles, again this may change. Press lightly.
- Your second step is going to be to draw your finger lines and curve the ends to add the fingers themselves. Think of this step as outlining. You're going to erase a number of times in this step because this is what shapes your hand. Look at your reference a lot and make sure it looks good. If it looks strange, keep in mind, it will look different when you add value.
- The next step is to add some detail. Defined wrinkles, nails, some small shading to get a grasp on how you're going to shade the hand and the darkest areas. You don't have to draw every wrinkle, but a few will make it believable.
- The fun starts now, adding value. Gently use the side of your pencil to shade the midtones, pressing harder where more value is needed, remember to shade from every direction to make it seem smooth, especially if you don't have a smoothing stub. The darkest areas will be the crease between fingers, and the deepest wrinkles, as well as where the light isn't hitting it.
(note: I know the thumb looks weird and a lot changes between each drawing, It's how I work.)
- Your final step is final details and darkening some areas. Remember not to smudge with your finger, and that details come slowly, make sure you're using your reference or it may look wrong, even if it's just your own hand. The best way to make it appear 3 dimensional is to make sure your lines are mostly gone by now. You want to represent your object with VALUE difference, not line art!
And that's mostly it. Keep at it, draw something everyday.
Anyway onto the tutorial.
- Start with a light circle. Mine has been darkened in photoshop. You do NOT want it to be dark and overtake the paper when it comes time to erase lines. I repeat PRESS LIGHT OR START OVER, that is all. After that take a look at your reference (Do not trace.) look at how the fingers are shaped, and make a square...ish shape to map out the fingers and direction. This may change, just start with it though.
- After that you're going to use small circles to map out your knuckles, again this may change. Press lightly.
- Your second step is going to be to draw your finger lines and curve the ends to add the fingers themselves. Think of this step as outlining. You're going to erase a number of times in this step because this is what shapes your hand. Look at your reference a lot and make sure it looks good. If it looks strange, keep in mind, it will look different when you add value.
- The next step is to add some detail. Defined wrinkles, nails, some small shading to get a grasp on how you're going to shade the hand and the darkest areas. You don't have to draw every wrinkle, but a few will make it believable.
- The fun starts now, adding value. Gently use the side of your pencil to shade the midtones, pressing harder where more value is needed, remember to shade from every direction to make it seem smooth, especially if you don't have a smoothing stub. The darkest areas will be the crease between fingers, and the deepest wrinkles, as well as where the light isn't hitting it.
(note: I know the thumb looks weird and a lot changes between each drawing, It's how I work.)
- Your final step is final details and darkening some areas. Remember not to smudge with your finger, and that details come slowly, make sure you're using your reference or it may look wrong, even if it's just your own hand. The best way to make it appear 3 dimensional is to make sure your lines are mostly gone by now. You want to represent your object with VALUE difference, not line art!
And that's mostly it. Keep at it, draw something everyday.
