The foreshortened view of the hand (fingers coming toward the viewer) can be a daunting assignment for a student to draw.

• The ‘Picture Plane is a mental construct. It is an imaginary transparent plane like a framed window that is always parallel to the ‘plane’ of the artist’s eyes.

What the artist sees on the ‘plane’ is actually extends back into the distance, but the plane allows the artist to see the scene as though it were magically smashed flat on the back of the clear glass plane, much like a photograph.

• Look through your viewfinder, and frame a scene that you like compositionally.

• Always keep the viewfinder (picture plane) in front of your face. Don’t slant it in any direction.

• For practice, use your vis-a-vis marker and draw some of the lines and angles you have ‘framed’ directly onto the viewfinder.

Start the exercise by posing your hand in an interesting position

place the viewfinder over your posed hand and draw all place the viewfinder over your posed hand and draw all of the shapes and wrinkles that you see onto the of the shapes and wrinkles that you see onto the

viewfinder with yourviewfinder with your vis-a-vis pen. vis-a-vis pen. vis-a-vis pen. vis-a-vis pen.

• Remember, that we have binocular vision. That means that with both eyes Remember, that we have binocular vision. That means that with both eyes open, we see things in three dimensions. If we close one eye, then we see open, we see things in three dimensions. If we close one eye, then we see in two dimensions. in two dimensions.

Test this information by holding your hand in front of your face and closing Test this information by holding your hand in front of your face and closing one eye; then open that eye and close the other...did you see your hand one eye; then open that eye and close the other...did you see your hand move?move?

• This is why it is important to keep one eye closed often when you draw, to This is why it is important to keep one eye closed often when you draw, to only see one view. You must also keep your head still and maintain one only see one view. You must also keep your head still and maintain one position when you draw.position when you draw.

on your sketch pad, outline the edges of on your sketch pad, outline the edges of your paper templateyour paper template

after wearing down the sharp edges of your graphite after wearing down the sharp edges of your graphite stick on another paper, tone your sketch pad paper stick on another paper, tone your sketch pad paper within your outline to an even medium gray color.within your outline to an even medium gray color.

Use your viewfinder to pinpoint the cross hairs, and then Use your viewfinder to pinpoint the cross hairs, and then copy them into your toned paper.copy them into your toned paper.

Use a paper towel to smooth your ground into an Use a paper towel to smooth your ground into an even silvery finish.even silvery finish.

Place your viewfinder on a piece of white paper Place your viewfinder on a piece of white paper so that your drawn hand can be easily seen.so that your drawn hand can be easily seen.

now you are ready to transfer the basic information of your hand onto your now you are ready to transfer the basic information of your hand onto your

toned papertoned paper. . Carefully transfer each shape, line and angle from each quarter Carefully transfer each shape, line and angle from each quarter of the viewfinder onto the corresponding quarter of your paper. Be sure to of the viewfinder onto the corresponding quarter of your paper. Be sure to

compare the angles you see against the cross hairs, your vertical and compare the angles you see against the cross hairs, your vertical and horizontal landmarks. horizontal landmarks.

Now that the basic information is drawn onto your paper, put down the Now that the basic information is drawn onto your paper, put down the viewfinder and reposition your hand just as it was under the viewfinder. Make viewfinder and reposition your hand just as it was under the viewfinder. Make sure you have a lamp that can shine on your hand to create high contrasts and sure you have a lamp that can shine on your hand to create high contrasts and

a wide range of value for your drawing. Now you can fill in all of the details, a wide range of value for your drawing. Now you can fill in all of the details, wrinkles, lines, highlights and shadows that you seewrinkles, lines, highlights and shadows that you see..

A good technique is to erase out the ground around the edges of A good technique is to erase out the ground around the edges of the hand to help it ‘pop out’ into a three-dimensional look. the hand to help it ‘pop out’ into a three-dimensional look.

Your eraser is actually another way to define shapes just like having Your eraser is actually another way to define shapes just like having another pencil...erase out the highlights you see...the light will be an another pencil...erase out the highlights you see...the light will be an

exact shape...erase it in that shape. exact shape...erase it in that shape.

Since you have a strong light on your hand, you will also see dark shadows...be Since you have a strong light on your hand, you will also see dark shadows...be sure to darken them in. Be sure also, to include as many sensitively drawn lines sure to darken them in. Be sure also, to include as many sensitively drawn lines as you can. The details you include are a critical element of your drawing and as you can. The details you include are a critical element of your drawing and

will add a great deal toward creating a successful artwork.will add a great deal toward creating a successful artwork.

your finished product might look something like this...the artist here your finished product might look something like this...the artist here continued the rest of the hand outside of the drawn format...if you continued the rest of the hand outside of the drawn format...if you think of a way of infusing some creative element into your piece, by think of a way of infusing some creative element into your piece, by

all means, include it!all means, include it!

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLESADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

THE ENDTHE END