Hands in Art

I know I’ve been posting about hands a lot recently, but they’re one of my favorite subjects to draw and paint. I don’t think we give enough credit to our hands – they’re involved in everything we do. We use them to create art, make music, cook a feast for loved ones. They hold our babies, scratch our dogs, cling on to those whom we love. 

Have you ever been to the ballet? Ballerinas are incredible. The amount of power and control it takes to skillfully pull off a ballet is beyond me. One of my favorite things to watch during a ballet is the ballerinas’ hands. They’re the epitome of grace. They float and flow no matter how difficult the move is that the ballerina is doing. They convey emotion without the ballerina ever having to speak a word. 

Hands are language. Not just sign language, although that is so beautiful in itself, but also in the way we touch, reach, & move. If your eyes are the window to your soul, then your hands are the expression of it.

I’m currently offering custom drawings and paintings of people’s hands in my Etsy. I don’t often offer custom pieces on a large scale like this, but it struck me that this was such a cool way to incorporate extremely personal art into your living space. I absolutely love portraits, but some people don’t want a portrait in their living space, or don’t know who they would get a portrait painted of. Having your hands in a custom piece feels a little bit like a secret. No one else immediately knows that they’re your hands. They don’t know who’s hand you are holding, or what the pose or sign means to you. These works are personal and beautiful, but without being obvious. I like a bit of mystery in art.