Thursday, October 14, 2010

I've Got To Hand It To You (2010)

When I look at portfolios, I can gauge the skill of the artist rather quickly by observing the way they draw hands. Expressive hands can add tremendous impact to a pose or gesture. After the eyes and mouth, the hands are one of the main indicators an audience looks for when trying to read a character's attitude, yet so many young artists are loathe to draw them. But draw them you must!

Hence this post...

This is the way I think of hands when I draw them. A wedge and cylinders.

Grouping fingers together and varying their direction can help make them look more natural.

No matter if they're beefy hands or slender, it's still a wedge and some cylinders. Try it.

 ©Toby Shelton 2010
Put your hands together, people! Take it to the next level by making your hands interact.

Hope this little exercise helps you to get a "grip" on drawing hands.

42 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for posting this! I've always had so much trouble drawing hands. This looks super helpful.

    This blog is simply awesome: you have nothing but the most helpful of advice, and your super-cool drawing style. Nice!

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  2. These are some "handy" tips!

    forreals thanks, and more puns!

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  3. Highly motivating! Thanks for the post!

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  4. Thanks for "pointing" these out! Very helpful indeed.

    (that was a stretch, wasn't it. -_-)

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  5. Great drawings, but these puns are really getting out of hand...OH SON OF A-

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  6. Amazing drawings. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, it's very helpful and inspiring.

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  7. Thanks for sharing, this is really helpful! :-)

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  8. I have always been told hands are the hardest thing to draw.

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  9. must.. draw... HANDS. These are just TOO COOL. Thank you!

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  10. This reminds me of Jules Feiffer's book "The Man In the Ceiling," and how the loathe Jimmy was to draw hands. Feiffer must have felt the pain too, in which case illustrators everywhere are in good company.

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  11. Great post Toby . Sound advice .
    Cheers.

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  12. All of the hands drawn here work not only as studies of an anatomical form, but also as graceful examples of pure design. In addition one can immediately imagine a story attached to each gesture and each owner. That is dynamism! Thanks for the lesson and the inspiration.

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  13. Toby your work is beautiful.I skrolled down to your board and thought it just moved so well.The acting ,loose draftmenship staging -all the good things that should be there are there in your work.

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  14. Thank you Toby! Much needed instruction for this greenhorn.

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  15. Terrific! Would love more tutorials from you!

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  16. Most definitely, and amazing as usual. Thanks!

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  17. wow, these are amazing!!

    they all have so much appeal!

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  18. so great...

    Do you do requests Toby? ha!

    I'd love to see what your methods for drawing heads are.

    ever thought of writing a book? I bet it would sell like gang-busters.

    Matt

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  19. Wonderful gestures!

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  20. Its a very difficult balance to acquired : Having solid and structured forms with flowing gestures. I guess after 33000 drawings it becomes natural. Thanks for the hint !

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  21. Hi there Toby
    I'd love permission to use your pic of hands for my work. I work at a not for profit in South Australia (www.bedfordgroup.com.au) and just need a nice pic like that. I teach students with a disability or disadvantage. You would be acknowledged of course.
    Regards
    Jenni Wright

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    1. Permission granted. All the best to you and your colleagues at the Bedford Group. Thanks for asking.

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  22. you are a magician toby, with open tricks!
    now this is called a blog! best i have ever came across!

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  23. Hmm... these look very similar to the characters' hands from Atlantis: The Lost Empire....

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    Replies
    1. Useful tips for hand designing.......thank you Mr.shelton

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