SSSDrawingTutorials
Drawing is simply a line going for a walk ~Paul Klee
This is a more detailed step by step tutorial for the praying hands. It splits the video tutorial into individual phases for you to follow along with and help you draw the hands. This is a good way to see the evolution of the drawing in each of its phases. You can use this with my video to see how I do it. This is where all the pieces of the face come together. For this drawing you will ned a 2B or 3B pencil, or a pencil set, an eraser, an A4/A3 sheet of paper and a blending stub or tissue (or you can just use your finger).
Good Luck!
Step 1: Outline phase 1
Start off drawing this rough outline. This will give a rough idea of the shape of the hands.
Step 2: Outline phase 2
Add in the thumbs. To shape the ends of the thumb curve downwards from the tip. There should be no points! Add in some small bumps and curves in the thumb shape to make it look more natural and realistic.
Step 7: Fingers - Right Hand
Now draw in the fingers. Curve the ends of the fingers to make it look more natural. Add in the bumps and curves to account for the individual sections of the fingers.
Praying Hands Tutorial
Step 4: Outline phase 4
Draw in the rest of the rough outline. Add in the finger tips on the top. It may look slightly awkward now, but remember this is just the outline.
Step 3: Outline phase 3
Start to draw in the outline for the second hand. Notice the curves of the hand shape.
Step 5: Outline phase 5
Adjust the edges and the lines slightly to get the shape of the hand just right. Notice how it is proportioned.
Step 6: Outline phase 6
Add in the sleeves for the hands. The cuff lining will run slightly over the hands. the cuff on the left will drop down below the hands.
Step 8: Fingers - Left Hand
Now draw in the left pinky finger. Do the same thing by adding curves and bumps and angle the finger slightly to make it look like it slightly bent.
Step 9: Fingernails
Add in the fingernail shapes. Notice they are irregular and the shape changes as the fingers are angled differently. They are curved at the top of the fingernail and more straight towards the bottom of the fingernail.
Step 10: Shading phase 1
To start with the shading add in the basic shapes. you do not need to worry about varying the levels of shading and tone.
Step 11: Shading phase 1
Add in and continue the rest of the basic shapes to shade the hand.
Step 12: Shading phase 2
Add in more of the basic shapes to shade the hands. Add in slight shadows for each of the fingers in the right hand.
Step 13: Shading phase 3
Add in the general circle shapes to account for the folds in the fingers on the joints. Add in the shadows cast from right hand.
Step 14: Shading phase 4
Add in the rest of the shadows cast from the hand. the shadows will run along the right side of the small finger and the along the edge where the right hand meets the left.
Step 21: Final Outcome
This is the completed set of praying hands. i have done a better drawing of the praying hands (than seen here) which can be viewed in my gallery. You can take a closer look at the drawing there. The techniques learnt here should be applicable to any other drawing you do. I encourage you to keep on practicing with other visual references and check out my other tutorials if you liked this one.
Step 15: Shading phase 5
Add in some small lines along the thumb to accentuate the curves and bumps more. Some of the basic shapes that run along the main body of the hand, this shows the veins.
Step 16: Blending
Using your assigned blending tool, blend in the shades together. Try to create a gradient of shading on the left hand. It will be darker since it is behind the right hand. The shadow that runs along the right hand will be the darkest area.
Step 17: Blending - Fingers
Make the shadows the darkest areas on the hands. Shade the outlines of the fingers a lighter shade than the shadows. Blend in the shades together to create a gradient that gets lighter towards the middle. Use an eraser to creaate more highlights.
Step 18: Blending
Create the same shading effects for the other fingers adding highlights to make the fingers more naturalistic. Add in the general shading for the main body of the hand. For now just create a general shading area across the hand.
Step 20: Blending
To complete the cuffs, add in some more shadows and another fold to complete the shading. This is the near complete form. You could leave it like this if you wish to. To complete it further, I just adjusted the veins and shading very slightly. Go over the lines and the shadows to give a nice clean finish. Try and blend in the shades as much as possible to get a sharper finish.
Step 19: Blending
Add in the veins using darker shades. Using an eraser add highlights along the veins. This will help give the hands a more naturalistic and older feeling. to shade in the cuffs first add the shadows, which will be the darkest area. Then use lighter shades to shade the linings of the cuffs.
