Drawing the Human Figure chapter 12
This copy after Andrea del Sarto shows some examples of hands. Many beginners find hands difficult to render, but they are
really no different from any other part of the body. Remember to try and simplify the forms; view the hands as a block with
sides, a front, and a back. The first hand shows the arm with its front and side planes separated from each other. This is
because the light is shining on the back of the hand. The side plane of the arm, the wrist and the palm, are all in shadow
because these planes are facing away from the light. The first phalange of the forefinger, along with the knuckles and the
back of the palm, are all facing toward the light. The last three fingers are bent down away from the light and are shaded to
show this difference. Notice how the side of the raised forefinger is defined by a subtle, darker shade of tone.
When drawing the hands, follow the line of the bones very carefully with your eye. Do not make the lines around the fingers
heavy; keep them soft, unless you see a dark shadow between the digits. You should draw the shape of the shadow, as por-
trayed here. See how the shadow between the second and third digits is triangular in shape. In the second example, the light
is shining along the side of the arm and hand. The side of the hand is receiving more light, while the back of the hand is
receiving less light. Place your own hand in the same position as shown in the drawing, and take note of how the light differ-
entiates and separates the planes of the figure or hand for you.
Copy after Andrea del Sarto’s Studies of Hands,by J. S. RobinsonCONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE