Hello everyone! In this tutorial, I'm sharing with you how I draw hands in expressive watercolor. Watercolor is suitable for both sketchy and anatomically correct styles, so you don't need to worry if you can't draw hands well. You can also use Clip Studio Paint's feature to assist in your drawings.

 

1. Prepare the 3d model for sketching

The fastest way to draw anatomically correct hands is using photo references, or in our case, Clip Studio Paint's 3d models. Of course the best way is not the fastest way - you should learn the hand's structure and draw from real life models (photos). If your style doesn't require much anatomy skill (or if you don't have time), feel free to use this method!

 

You can download a lot of 3d models on Clip Studio Asset. For this example, I'll use one of the default 3d models.

 

Go to the Material tab, drag-and-drop a 3d model you like onto your drawing canvas (or Layer tab). A whole body model appeared along with the hand model(s), so you will have to zoom in and rotate till you have the pose and angle you like.

 

 

 

Tips on using 3d models:

 

1. You can choose male/female models (or special body type models like chibi models, fat/skinny models, etc. if you have them downloaded) and put them on the canvas first.

 

Then choose a body pose you want and drag-and-drop it right onto the 3d body model. The body model you chose will change to the pose.

 

Finally choose the hand pose and drag-and-drop them onto the model again. You now have the hand pose with the right body type/scale.

2. You can lower the opacity of the model's layer and start drawing on another layer on top of that, but you can accidentally move the model or experience a lagging computer. So I often take a screenshot of the monitor and hide/delete the 3d model.

 

For desktop users, press the Print Screen key on your keyboard (mine is named Prt Scr), then Ctrl + V to paste it as a new layer on the Layer tab. Delete the parts you don't want and resize if needed (using Ctrl + T).

 

For iPad users, press the top and Home buttons at the same time (or for the latest model, the top and volume up buttons). Your screenshot will be saved as a photo. To import it, go to File > Import > Image… (I use a customized button because I use this function a lot).

3. Modify the reference image to draw different types of hands

 

The problem with using 3d models for reference/tracing is that the result may appear too "stiff", or do not mix well with the overall style. You can relieve it somewhat by modifying the screenshots.

 

The simplest way is using Ctrl + T. Or you can go to Edit > Transform > Mesh Transformation… for more control.

 

Another method I use is creating another layer and mapping out the joints of the hand. Modify their position if needed (ex. for shorter fingers, move the joints closer together). Then draw the hand based on that joint sketch.

 

2. Line art

This step is simple: Choose a pencil of your choice and lightly trace over your sketch. You don't need it to be really clean and neat; it'll look more like real drawing if the pencil drawing is a bit messy. Switch the Blending mode of the layer to Multiply.

 

3. Coloring

I use the Realistic watercolor brushes for this step.

 

1. Base watercolor wash

 

On a new layer, cover the hand with a glaze of watercolor, using the Round watercolor brush or Flat watercolor brush. You can choose any color you want; it's not important.

 

By default, you have to do this step in one stroke (without lifting your stylus from the drawing surface), or else the color will not be even. This may be hard if your drawing is complicated.

 

There are some way to circumvent it:

 

On the Tool property of the brush, switch the Blending mode from Multiply to Replace alpha. Remember to switch it back afterward for other steps!

 

Change the brush's size to a very big size. Cover all the drawing in one stroke. Erase the unwanted parts.

 

Color the whole hand in white using the G-pen and Fill tool. Clip a black-and-white watercolor texture onto it then merge the two together (or use the Round/Flat watercolor brush with black color and cover it in one stroke like two methods above). Go to Edit > Convert brightness to opacity. You now have the hand with watercolor texture. This method is suitable for large and/or complex drawing.

 

2. Base coloring and shading

 

Tip: You may use the 3d model image before as reference for this step if you want. In my example I just wing it.

 

First and foremost, click the Lock transparent pixels button for the base layer.

 

Then start to "color" the hand using the Airbrush. Use a darker, more reddish shade for the shadow. Dab a bit of blue/ultramarine/teal to show the veins and transparency of the skin. I also like to use orange for the joints and fingertips, but it's purely for the style.

 

If you didn't draw the base with the watercolor brush (aka the 2nd or 3rd method from part 1), go to the Layer Property tab and turn on the watercolor Border effect.

 

3. Shadow

 

Add more shadow (preferably on a new layer) using the Round/Flat watercolor brush. You can also Lock transparent pixels and add more color like with the base.

 

4. Add color to the pencil line

 

This is to blend the pencil line with the watercolor (I also do that with real life watercolor drawings). Use a small-sized Round/Flat watercolor brush to trace the pencil line on a new layer. Use the similar colors as the drawing. Switch the Blending mode to Multiply.

 

5. Add paper texture

 

This step is optional. I create a new layer below all other drawn layers and fill it with a very light warm cream color (or a bluish light grey, depends on the mood of your drawing). Then go to the Material tab and drag-and-drop the Fine textured texture (!) onto the canvas. On the Layer property tab, click the Overlay texture button and lower the Strength slider to 10 - 20.

 

Tip: if you find the color too light, duplicate your watercolor layer(s). Also try different color combination to mimic different skin types.

The drawing is finished! I hope you can find something useful from my tutorial. If you want to know more of this watercolor technique, you can see my other tutorials: