An outstretched arm and hand can be used in a number of ways. Here, the fingers
are spread as if trying to grasp onto something, perhaps to stop the figure from
falling. This sketch shows that even a fully outstretched arm is not entirely straight.
Draw two ovals and
then a U-shape, closed
with a curved line. Join
these three shapes. They
are, from bottom to
top, the shoulder joint,
elbow joint, and hand.Add an ellipse to the
left of the hand for the
thumb pad, and add a
line coming from it for
the thumb. Draw four
ovals to create knuckles;
then add the fingers.Finish drawing the
thumb and then flesh
out the arm. Add a
suggestion of a head—
here, half an ellipse with
an ear shape—and add
some spiky hair.Ink around the arm
and the individual fin-
gers. Define the curve
of the thumb on the
palm, the life line, and
the creases at the base
of the fingers.Add some flat color to
the arm and hand. In
this sketch, a pale pink
was used.Now add shading. Here
the upper arm is in
shadow. There is also a
hint of shadow along the
right-hand side of the
lower arm and around
the palm of the hand.wAVIN g ARM
HANDS AND ARMS