Hands

Hands enable us to hold and carry things.  They also may express strong emotions and place emphasis on certain objects or people (See "The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci).  The best way to draw hands is to observe your own hand in various positions.  Pay attention to the deep creases in the palm and in the joints of the fingers, but don't draw every line you can see.  Shading is very important when trying to draw a realistic hand, since it conveys depth and roundness to the fingers.  In younger hands, the skin tends to be smoother since the skin still has its elasticity.  In older hands, the fingers may seem more frail, and the skin is looser on the back of the hand, where tendons and veins may become visible.  The knuckles of the hand will appear as small valleys when the fingers are bent away from the palm, and will appear to be more like hills when the fingers are bent towards the palm.  The middle finger has the biggest knuckle and it sticks up the most.