Draw a hand on Canson 1557 paper.

1. Sketching the guidelines

Start by laying out the structure of this hand drawing by delicately tracing the guidelines with a medium-hard pencil (HB or 2H). Be careful not to press too hard, as these lines will only serve as markers and some will be erased later. Thanks to the fine grain of Canson 1557 paper, you will obtain clean, precise lines with no irregularities.

2. Reinforcing contours

Once the sketch is in place, go back over the hand contours with a bolder pencil (2B or 4B) to give the shapes more presence. Thanks to its texture, Canson 1557 paper allows a fluid transition between the different degrees of pressure and favours homogenous, expressive lines.

3. Refining lines and highlighting shading

Erasing construction lines: Gently remove the initial marks using a fine eraser or a breadcrumb eraser to retain only the essential lines.
Placement of shadows and values:  Tilt your pencil horizontally to take advantage of a larger lead surface and apply subtle shading. The steeper the tilt, the smoother and more even the result.
Gesture control: For a smooth, natural line, move your index finger slightly away from the pencil lead to draw with wider, lighter strokes.

4. Creating volume and contrast

Reinforcing shadows: Use a blender to soften shadows to even out gradations and create more subtle transitions. The balanced structure of Canson 1557 paper allows for excellent tonal blending.
Highlighting: Use a precise eraser (electric eraser or breadcrumb eraser) to create areas of light by slightly removing pigment. This technique adds volume and accentuates contrasts.

5. Applying the colour

First coat of colour: Start by applying a light blue to the shadow areas to add depth.
Unifying the skin tone: Cover the entire hand with a flesh tone or pale orange, taking care to preserve areas of light.
Intensifying the colours: Finish by applying a brighter orange to accentuate the realism and give relief to your design.