How to Draw Anime Hands

In order to properly draw an anime body, you must be able to draw all the parts of an anime character’s body. In this step-by-step tutorial we will show you how to draw anime hands.

In fact, anime hands are drawn almost the same way as hands are drawn in other styles of visual art, but there are some differences that we will cover in this tutorial.

We divided the tutorial into two parts, each with two examples. In the first part, we will show how to draw an open hand from the palm and back views.

How to draw anime hands from the palm and back views

Step 1: Outline the palms

To correctly depict an open anime hand, start with the palm. At this stage, this part of the hand looks like a simple trapezoid.

Step 2: Draw four fingers

Now draw four fingers. The middle finger is the longest, the index and ring fingers are a little shorter, and the little finger is the shortest and thinnest.

Step 3: Add the thumbs

Now draw the thumbs, which are very different in position and shape from the other four fingers. The basic anime hand sketches are complete, and starting from the next stage, we’ll go into details.

Step 4: Refine both hands

Using clear, dark lines, trace both hands, making them clean and neat. Draw the nails, knuckles, and lines on the palm. Erase the unwanted guidelines.

Now let’s see how to draw anime hands from the side views. Here you will also see the hand from both sides.

How to draw anime hands from the side views

Step 1: Sketch the side palms

The palm from the side also looks like a trapezoid, but thinner. Sketch these light geometric shapes.

Step 2: Shape the fingers

Now mark the fingers. Note that at rest, the little finger tends to bend more than the index finger.

Step 3: Place the thumbs

Now add the thumbs, which again are quite different from the rest of the fingers. Try to repeat the shape and curve of each thumb as closely as possible.

Step 4: Finish the contours

Using clear, dark lines, trace the anime hands and remove all unnecessary guidelines, giving them a finished look. Draw the folds and nails.

Above, we showed you how to draw anime hands and covered the most basic principles and tips. Now your task is to practice and draw anime hands in a variety of poses and from different points of view.

Try to depict hands both at rest and in a tense state using the steps above. Here are a few additional poses that you can try to draw using what you have learned.

Once you have mastered how to draw empty hands, you can learn how to draw anime hands holding objects. Here are several examples of anime hands holding different objects. Try to repeat them using your newly acquired skills.

This step-by-step guide is part of our series of basic anime drawing tutorials. Continue practicing to master the different features of this art style.