Wash your hand -- then draw it!

I don't participate in social media during the day. By which I mean that my phone does not have any social apps and no notifications when I get an email. I only read blogs from my tablet when I am home. I opened a Instagram account that I used to post my sketches during October (Inktober) from my computer only. Now, moving one step closer, I installed the Instagram App on my tablet. I find that it is easier to post my sketches when I take a picture with my tablet and send it to Instagram. At this time, my focus on this blog and on Instagram is the process of learning to sketch, so that is what I am posting is my sketches.

On Instagram, I picked up a suggestion to draw my hand each day. [for posterity, I should state what right now is obvious: we are in the midst of the novel Coronavirus pandemic with the accompanying cautions and restrictions. That is the reason for the hashtag "wash your hand..." as a precaution to prevent infection] In my case, I draw it with some object that I use or have near me each day. I am posting several of the hand sketches here that have been on Instagram. I am currently using three sketchbooks with different paper, so I'm grouping the sketches based on paper. 

First is a notebook from Daiso, a Japanese dollar store in which most items sell for $1.50.

Daiso notebook back. $1.50 with smooth
paper that doesn't bleed with most inks.

This notebook has 50 pages, softcover, very smooth paper that is great for fountain pens and pencils. It does buckle when water washed and shows ghosting if written with ink on both sides of the paper. But the paper is quite lovely for such an inexpensive book. I bought it to practice doodles and people sketches. 

#washyourhandthendrawit series number 1
drawn with M+R pencil sharpener

My first #washyourhandthendrawit post was on the Daiso paper. This is labeled Hand#39 because I started a 100 hand challenge that was interrupted. So I am continuing the numbering series.

Number 7 in #washyourhandthendrawit series
CdA NeocolorII on Daiso paper

Also on Daiso paper, hand 47 using a Prismacolor vintage dry colored pencil on the crayon held in my hand. The hand was drawn with the crayon, a Caran D'Ache NeocolorII watersoluble pastel crayon. Love these lush color tools! 

Number 12 in the #washyourhand... series.
Fountain pen ink on Daiso paper

Last night's sketch (hand#52) was on Daiso paper because I decided to use fountain pens and ink. I am feeling more relaxed with drawing my hand, not the easiest thing! So with these three sketches, I can show some of the progression I am making in sketching hands. I highly recommend practice in drawing daily, and especially making yourself draw the same thing from many different angles. Trust me, as awkward as it may feel at first, you will be happier in time with your results!