How To Draw a Human Hand?

Here are the steps.

Step 1 – Block In the Palm, Thumb, and Wrist Shapes

Start with a tall, slightly curved box-like shape for the palm, leaning a little to match the hand’s angle in the reference.
Add a smaller angled block on the left side to represent the thumb base, keeping it attached to the palm shape.
Sketch a short rectangular wrist cuff under the palm, wider than the bottom of the hand so it looks supportive.
Keep the top of the palm slightly rounded rather than perfectly flat, since fingers will emerge from a curved knuckle line.
Use light, loose strokes and focus on proportion: the palm should be the largest central form, and the thumb block should be shorter and set lower than where the fingers will start.
Make sure the wrist sits centered beneath the palm so the hand doesn’t feel off-balance.
Avoid any finger details in this step—this stage is only about simple forms that establish the hand’s structure.

From the top of the palm, draw five long finger columns (simple rectangular tubes), spacing them evenly across the top edge.
Make the middle finger the tallest, with the index and ring slightly shorter, and the pinky the shortest.
Lightly curve the line where the fingers meet the palm to suggest the natural knuckle arc.
Refine the thumb by rounding it into a more organic form and adding a curved inner edge where it meets the palm.
Sketch a large oval/rounded shape at the base of the thumb to show the thumb pad area.
Add light guide lines across the fingers to mark where the joints will be (these will become the finger segments).
Keep everything sketchy and adjustable; this step is about placing finger length, spacing, and overall gesture correctly.

Divide each finger into clear segments using the joint guides: top segment (tip), middle segment, and lower segment near the palm.
Slightly taper the fingers so they are thicker near the palm and narrower toward the tips.
Round the ends of the fingers to avoid a stiff “blocky” look, while still keeping the basic structure.
Refine the palm by adding a gentle curve along the outer edge and clarifying where the thumb connects.
Start drawing the main palm crease lines, especially the large curve that arcs from the thumb pad toward the center of the palm.
Sharpen the wrist connection by adding a slightly curved band where the palm meets the wrist, giving it a more anatomical transition.
Clean up overlapping construction lines so the hand shape becomes readable: clear silhouette, clear finger spacing, and believable joints.

Darken the final outer contour of the hand, keeping edges smooth and confident while preserving natural curves.
Add subtle shape changes around joints and knuckles so each finger feels rounded instead of like a flat tube.
Shade the thumb pad and the side of the palm with soft cross-hatching to show volume and a light source.
Add light shading between fingers and under the finger bases to create depth and separation.
Strengthen the palm creases with slightly darker lines, but keep them organic and not overly harsh.
Shade the wrist area lightly to show it turning away from the light, and blend into the palm so it looks connected.
Finish by erasing leftover guide marks and balancing contrast: darker in creases and overlaps, lighter on the top planes of the fingers and palm for a clean, finished hand drawing.