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22 Hand Drawing Ideas and References

Updated April 12, 2021
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If you're looking for hand drawing ideas and references, I have a collection that will help you practice drawing hands.

Drawing hands can be one of the most difficult challenges artists face. Many artists have stories of putting their characters' hands in their pockets or behind their backs to avoid drawing hands.

A few tips to remember when drawing hands is that the basic shape of a hand is square-ish. It's also important to note that the fingers are not straight, but bend slightly.

Drawing hands from references is a great practice that will eventually lead to you being able to draw from your imagination.

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Hand Drawing Ideas and References

Check out these 19 hand drawing ideas and references for inspiration and practice drawing hands.

Use the Grid Method

The grid method involves drawing a grid over your reference photo and then lightly drawing the grid on your drawing paper to scale.

The grid method will help you with the placement of your drawing. It will give you a reference point between the photo and your canvas.

Credit: ashi_force

Credit: destroyan

Add Color

Adding color to your drawing can be a great way to make your drawing stand out.

You can use colored pencils, pastels, or even watercolor paint to add some color to your drawing.

Credit: dianetics_art

Credit: dobb.art

Practice Blind Contour Drawing

Blind contour drawing is the practice of drawing the contour of a subject without looking down at the paper.

Blind contour drawing is helpful because it trains the eyes and hand to work as a team.

It always helps the artist see all the details of the subject.

Credit: hands_and_snakes

Credit: happy_digest

Practice Sketching Daily

If you want to get better at sketching, the best thing you can do is practice daily.

I recommend setting aside an hour every day to sketch. Don't worry about your work being perfect. It will get better naturally the more you practice.

Credit: jstqw

Credit: konstnej

Don't Blend with Your Fingers

Once it's time to blend, try not to blend with your fingers.

When you blend with your fingers, the oils from your skin will transfer to the paper and may affect the look of your drawing.

Again, I recommend blending stumps for blending your work.


Credit: lemon_oh5

Credit: lensleychristophart

Use a Blending Stump

It can be difficult to get a good blend with pencils. However, you can create a smooth bleeding effect by using a blending stump.

Blending stumps are great for smudging graphite and charcoal.

Credit: nemaiza

Credit: portraitsandmore.nee

Try Not to Smudge

If you can, avoid smudging your drawing. You can place a piece of paper underneath your hand to minimize how much your hand smudges your drawing.

This will help ensure you have a clean looking drawing once it's complete.

Remember, you can use smudging to your advantage to smooth out your shading.

Credit: rosebeamz

Credit: sherinachin

Choosing Your Pencils

Before you begin your drawing, it's important that you choose the right pencil.

If you're new to sketching and aren't sure what pencil grade to start with, I recommend starting your sketch with a pencil on the H scale.

You can finish off your drawing with a darker pencil grade, such as a pencil on the B scale.

Credit: Get Drawings

Credit: Angel Kite

Credit: Get Drawings

Credit: Get Drawings

Credit: srvntz

Credit: theunnoticedwild_flower.92

Credit: varvaryundus_art

Credit: victoria.art.26

Credit: whitee.gr

I hope you were able to find some inspiration with the hand drawing ideas and references in this post.

More Posts You May Like:

  • 18+ Eye Drawing Tutorials and References
  • 38 Cool Drawing Ideas for Your Sketchbook
  • 20+ Easy Sketch Ideas Beginners Can Draw

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