Drawing hands is very difficult for many middle school artists. We are using this unit as a means to study how we are all alike, while celebrating individual differences. Our handmade books will feature each student's hand drawing along with textile patterns from various cultures in the negative spaces. Each student will be asked to think about how he or she can spread "peace". They have all been alarmed by the recent violence in public schools across the nation. Students will be encouraged to explore different cultural symbols and meanings and will incorporate their own beliefs and values. The pages will have a ribbon drawing connecting each student drawing--this ribbon tying all of us together. This project idea came from Mrs. Kramer, art teacher at Los Cerros Middle School, Danville, California. [UNIT LESSON  PLAN]

See the drawings of hands from Los Cerros Middle School

Drawing Hands by M. C. Escher M. C. Escher was a master of illusion.   Also see Hand with Reflecting Sphere - a self portrait by Escher. Be sure to click on the pictures to see a larger image. Be sure to look at the detail images.

Igar Stravinsky by Picasso Look how the hands seem to be exaggerated in this contour drawing.

Carol Gray's hand portraits Contemporary artist-- Watercolors and drawings of hands at work and play illustrating history and capturing life's memories.

Hand Studies: hand 1 and hand 2 (graphite) - hand 3  and hand 4 (oil studies) - images from Viola  Fair site by Larry Tipton (see note below)      See "Fist" by Amy Rawson. See Amy's "Fist" in progress work

How to Draw Hands - some tips from About.com (watch out for pop-up ads)

Digital photographs by Harold Olejarz New Jersey middle school teacher's photography focusing on hands.

Leonardo da Vinci See how hand gestures were important in the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci. Da Vinci and many other Renaissance artists would fill sketch books with studies of hands. See Leonardo da Vinci's drawing of hands. More drawings by Leonardo da Vinci.

Detail of hands from Michelangelo's Creation of Adam.   Creation of Man - Sistine Chapel.

Praying Hands. Read the story about this famous drawing by Renaissance artist, Albrecht Durer. It will touch your heart.

Illustrations are from "The Young Jesus with the Doctors" painting and hand studies, Albrecht Durer, 1506

You may also go to search engines and look up history of textiles (or name of culture you wish and textiles). Save the URL of any quality sites you find into a Word Document for Mrs. Decker.  [LESSON PLAN]

Learn about the history of hand made paper.  Discover the art of book making

HANDS LESSON IDEAS ON INCREDIBLE ART DEPARTMENT

Background image adapted from Leonardo da Vinci's drawing of hands

Note on Viola Fair site. The images linked above were downloaded from the Viola Fair site by Larry Tipton. The site is no longer safe for student viewing as it has been hacked into. I will remove the hand studies from this site at the request of the artist. Artist may be Larry Tipton.

World Cultures