PROPORTIONS
OF A Brenda Hoddinott
H-02 BEGINNER: FOCUS ON PEOPLE

This project offers simple step-by-step illustrated
instructions, to guide aspiring artists through the
process of outlining a proportionately correct adult
human hand.
Human hands are without doubt very anatomically
intricate, but not nearly as difficult to draw as many
artists assume. The process of drawing a hand becomes
less intimidating when you understand how to render
the proportions properly, and can draw the fundamental
shapes of the various parts in their correct places.

Drawing supplies needed include good quality white paper, different grades of graphite pencils
(such as HB and 2B), kneaded and vinyl erasers, a pencil sharpener and a sandpaper block.
This lesson is comprised of the following three sections:
INTRODUCTION: Hands come in various shapes and sizes depending on different factors,
such as the persons’ size, age, and gender; yet the overall proportions are very similar.
PUTTING PROPORTIONS ON PAPER: Setting up accurate proportions is the
foundation of drawing hands. Fingers make up approximately half the total length of a hand.
OUTLINING THE FORMS OF A HAND: In this section, you outline the hand with thin
neat lines by constantly referring to the illustrations and your own hand.

This project is recommended for artists from age 12 to adult, as well as home
schooling, academic and recreational fine art educators.

ILLUSTRATION 02-01

Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may
not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
E-mail [email protected]
Web sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
- 3 -
The illustrations and instructions in this lesson will be based on an average sized hand. However,
hands come in various shapes and sizes depending on lots of different factors, including the
person’s size, age, and gender; yet the overall proportions are very similar.
In the next drawings examine three variations of hands and compare each to the rectangular
sketch beside it.
Which of the three hands in Illustrations 02-02 to 02-04 most closely resembles the overall
shape of your hand?
ILLUSTRATION 02-02

not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
E-mail [email protected]
Web sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
- 4 -
PUTTING PROPORTIONS ON PAPER
Setting up accurate proportions is the foundation of drawing hands. If the length of the longest
finger when compared to the length of the hand is drastically different, your proportions may be
incorrect; hence, no amount of beautiful shading can then save your drawing.
If you are drawing your own hand, constantly examine it as you work; use my illustrations as
guidelines only. Also, my drawing is of my left hand; if you are drawing your right hand, the
whole hand, including the fingers and thumb, will be in reverse.
1) Use an HB pencil and very lightly sketch a vertical rectangle to represent the overall
shape of a hand (refer to Illustration 02-05).
2) Divide the rectangle in half to mark the point where the base of the fingers meets the
main section of the hand.
3) Sketch the three largest fingers as in Illustration 02-06.
ILLUSTRATION 02-05 ILLUSTRATION 02-06
I often use
straight (rather
than curved)
lines to establish
the proportions
of hands.
Pay attention to
the lengths of
the fingers and
the position of
each in relation
to the others.
If you are