DIGITAL ART TUTORIAL - How to paint a hand -- 9 steps --

artwithflo (63)in #art • 7 years ago

DIGITAL ART TUTORIAL - How to paint a hand in 9 easy steps

In this digital art tutorial I'll be showing you how to paint a hand with digital painting software and (preferably) a drawing tablet. This is the end result we're aiming for in this tutorial.

STEP 1 - Draw the basic shapes

Start out by sketching the big, basic shapes of the hand. Try to think in ovals, squares, basic lines. Try to keep it as simple as you can.

STEP 2 - Define the shapes

Define your basic shape sketch more by adding more details like the individual fingers.

STEP 3 - Base tone

Lower the opacity of the sketch layer and make a new layer underneath. Paint in a base tone for the hand, make sure you do it nice and tidy.

STEP 4 - Rough shading

Make a new layer between the base tone layer and the sketch layer and clip this layer to the base tone layer (right click -> add clipping mask), this way you won't be able to go over the edges of the hand. Lay down the basic shading to give the hand more form.

STEP 5 - Color variation

Add an overlay layer and apply oranges, reds, blues, greens, to add more color variation to the hand.

STEP 6 - Blend and define

Blend the colors, I use a soft round brush with the opacity set to about 50% (and set to pen pressure) and pick up colors using the eyedropper tool, this way I can glaze the colors on top of eachother getting a nice blend. Start defining the shapes of the fingers more by adding deeper shadows.

STEP 7 - Add highlights

Start adding highlights using a low opacity brush, this will define the shape of the hand even more.

STEP 8 - Details

Paint in more details like the fingernails and little creases in the hand.

STEP 9 - Final fixes

Fix mistakes you might see and keep detailing and refining til you're satisfied!

Timelapse video

If you have any questions about the techniques I use, be sure to let me know!