A certain theme runs through most of my sketchbooks--because wherever you are, if you don't feel inspired by your surroundings you can always fall back on these...hands and feet. They are supposed to be one of those difficult tasks when drawing people, so why not get all the practice you can; right? Let me tell you, I do get lots of practice!
This sketch appears about once a month, almost always exactly like this...sketch too close to the top of the page to get the whole thing in, holding the side of my sketchbook. You think I would be tired of doing it but somehow I find it more interesting than my surrounding! Maybe I should take this as a sign than I need to redecorate?
This would actually not be my own feet, and I really enjoyed getting a view I wouldn't otherwise be capable of getting. These are my mother's feet. She had them pulled up onto the couch as we watched "Castle". She had figured out what I was doing by the time I got to her bottom foot, was itching to move, so I rushed and couldn't seem to get the size right. It appears smaller when it should, in reality, appear slightly larger as it was closer. 
This may look odd at first. I was sitting in my backyard trying to find something to sketch. So, in a very unladylike manner, I threw my leg up onto the table and sketched. Luckily no one can see into our backyard as I would never sit like this in public!! Could you imagine doing this at a restaurant? Of course, I would hope you would be inspired to draw something other than your foot!
Decided to add watercolor, even though it wasn't watercolor paper. The plants in the background are supposed to be my tomato plants and that is asparagus in the very back, next to the wall. Edited out were my rosemary, chives, and parsley. The gray of the concrete didn't scan well, so it loses a little of the depth.
So, how often do you resort to your hands and feet?
Nicely done, as always! I was just at the podiatrists and I should have done my foot or the dr. working on my feet! LOL! Instead, I drew the lamp with many parts, a plant and part of a photo of a Marine! Had to laugh when I looked at this because of the feet connection. I guess it is Foot Day!
ReplyDeleteI used to have my students draw their foot, their hand, one eye, their nose, and other things as a series. We also did the contour drawings, etc. They enjoyed drawing the outline of their foot on large paper, then filling it in with designs.
I just realized that the exam room had an interesting photo of a ballerina's foot on a piano keyboard! :)
Love this posting! I find that drawing hands and feet occurs when I'm not in the mood to do anything else and I can at least justify it as practice!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the hands & feet! I do them too, along with noses and eyes. I might be graduating to mouths, soon! lol nancy
ReplyDeleteLove your sketches. good for you for finding something/anything to draw.
ReplyDeleteSome people say the hands and feet are the hardest to draw. I couldn't agree more ^^ because I just drew my own hand teeheee! I really like the way you do it more. And the one you colored in the end, it's so much nicer in my humble opinion. I'd need to do this more often =) Maybe someday I'll be able to draw them half-decent.
ReplyDeleteRaena
ReplyDeletethis post is interesting...
my husband also does same times....
Raena, gorgeous sketches. I should take a cue from you and sketch more feet and hands. I usually find a way to not draw them when i draw people-- hidden behind a laptop, plant or in the pant pocket.
ReplyDeleteWell done and I love your watercoloured version of your feet.
I haven't drawn either of mine for a while but I can feel some sketches coming on. yours are all beautifully executed and I do like that watercolour with your foot on the table!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about hands and feet and in my case other parts of the anatomy like eyes ears and noses.I do like your foot ladylike or not.I realised recently when I wanted to put more detail into sketches that I have a real lack of skill when it comes to the bits that hang off or protrude from our bodies so I,ve decidede to practise,practise,pratise well thats the plan anyway.
ReplyDeleteGreat job, such a simple subject but your sketches are really well done.
ReplyDeleteGreat sketches Raena.
ReplyDeleteYou are so motivated. When bored I look at my feet as I'm idly looking around, think I could sketch them, but can't be bothered to get sketch book (just out of reach) and flip tv channels instead.
I find and and feet very challenging, and actually find faces easier! I rarely sketch appendages, but obviously need more practice. You've inspired me to give hands and feet more effort.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've drawn my hands since a drawing class for 4H in the 4th grade. . . and in all honesty, I don't know that I've ever drawn my feet.
ReplyDeleteI guess I avoid my hands not because I don't think I can draw them but because they're working hands and lordy mercy, they've seen better days! (How's that for some Tuesday morning vanity???)
;)
Beautiful sketches! I should draw more limbs... I like them :)
ReplyDeleteIn one of my drawing books, the author said to always keep drawing your hands. Keep developing the eye. You have done a great job. Hands and feet are readily available!
ReplyDeleteGreat sketches, I really like the hand holding the sketchbook, the shading are so good.
ReplyDeleteAll your feet are very good also, and hard to do as well, but I do prefer hands, I found more character in them.
Raena - Wonderful sketches! I liked the colored version a lot.
ReplyDeleteEver since I started participating in Scavenger Hunt on Wetcanvas, I do sketch hands and feet several times and I do'nt seem to get tired of sketching them.
Well, to answer your question - almost never! I enlarged each and every one of your sketches and am greatly impressed. I think all of these are excellent! I have not pushed the "buy" button at Amazon yet, but am about to buy a book I've been eyeing on drawing hands, for those quick sketches in the field when they never come out right. I'd rather the hand sketches be as natural as breathing, whatever position they are in. Who'd've known that the lesson was here, in front of me, just an arm's (and leg's) length away!
ReplyDeleteUsually I avoid drawing hands because I can't make them properly. But you have done a great job on the hands & feet!
ReplyDeleteI really like these sketches! It just goes to show that when you run out of ideas, there is always something to draw!
ReplyDeleteGreat sketches... one of the hardest things to draw
ReplyDeleteGreat job on hands and feet. It is good practice and I do it often--they're always handy. I had a "feet" drawing framed (crooked toes with bright red polish) and someone actually bought it from a gallery. They asked if I had other parts.
ReplyDeleteLovely work. So far, except for shoes by themselves, I have not done feet or hands. At least you are practicing and making beautiful, interesting art.
ReplyDeleteThese sketches are great! I often fall back on drawing my feet but rarely draw my hands. I may have to rethink the old standbys and add hands to the list.
ReplyDeleteI draw my thumb all the time! I am going to have to branch out to include the whole hand. I also have several sketches of my feet but only in Birkenstocks.
ReplyDeleteThese are terrific sketches.
Thanks Raena for the comment. And yeah my sister just told me to get some painkillers...so much for an advice from the doctor huh ^^ Anyway, I will be okay. I am feeling that it's slowly going away. I might have torn a muscle and usually it heals by itself anyway, not bone-related injury.
ReplyDeleteNo I drew this with my dom-hand, so it was ouchy-ouch all the time while doing it.
This is a very cool post and DOES inspire me to draw feet and hands..... yours however, are REALLY wonderfully drawn!!
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog because I was visiting travelingsuep and she mentioned your blog.
Glad I visited!!
These are great! The colored version of your foot looks really cool. And your hand drawing is fantastic. I'm awed! (and yes, hands and feet are very difficult!)
ReplyDeleteActually, I should draw hands and feet more often. These are brilliant sketches!
ReplyDeletefun sketches
ReplyDeletethis is fantastic! the drawing is so well done and i love the one in color even more!
ReplyDeleteoh, Raena, you are GOOD at drawing hands and feet! Bravo for you! Me, I'm too chicken. Someday, though.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on these sketches...Always a great topic to draw. I really love the hand running off the top of the page...actually, my favorite! :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful sketches. I have drawn my hands and feet due to less than inspiring surroundings too. Sitting in the car waiting for my husband at Home Depot surrounded by trucks bigger and taller than my car kind of lead to that. I really don't like drawing trucks! You have drawn some really nice hands and feet here. I like the color added to the last one.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting post. I know it is very helpful to draw hands and feet, but I do it too seldom since I find it so hard... I love your drawing with the garden in the background, it´s such an interesting composition.
ReplyDeleteInstead of "what is the sound of one hand clapping"-in your case-I think "what is the vision of one hand drawing" is more appropriate.
ReplyDeleteNice work as always.
Wonderful sketches! I really like the 'unladylike' foot,LOL!! This is really a great idea and challenge. I need to start drawing those extremities, but wait I need a pedi and mani first!!:)
ReplyDeleteGreat sketches. I am often very unladylike, as I like to have my feet up on the living room table, especially when I sketch in the living room (that's often how we spend our evenings, my husband watching tv and me drawing or painting, not the best working pose, but I like to be in the same room).
ReplyDeleteHands and feet is something I should do more often, but I find that it really does get easier the more I draw.
My fave is the one you colored in, very nice!
Love the sketches!
ReplyDeleteVery, very wonderful! I especially love the one of your thumb/right hand (does this mean you are left handed? I am). The last one in color is super too. They all are! It is nice to have the subject of your drawings around any time you want them, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI love the hand, and its perfect how it fits in the the page... I have to start working more on portraits and hands, been lacking on that department far too long.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful drawings, well done