Easy Steps to Draw a Waving Hand Cartoon for Beginners

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 5 min read

Ever wished you could bring your doodles to life? Today, we're diving into the fun world of cartoons, specifically focusing on the "wave hand cartoon". Whether you're a beginner or an amateur artist looking to refine your skills; this guide will break down the process of drawing a cartoon hand in a waving gesture, into easy, manageable steps.

1. Gather Your Materials

The first step to creating your wave hand cartoon is to gather your materials. Having everything ready at hand ensures a smooth drawing process, allowing you to focus on the creative journey.

Paper and Pencil

Start with the basics: a sheet of paper and a pencil. Any paper will do, but a sketchpad is ideal if you have one. As for the pencil, a simple HB or 2B pencil will work perfectly fine for sketching the basic shape of your cartoon hand.

Eraser and Sharpener

Next, you'll need an eraser and a sharpener. The eraser is essential for correcting any mistakes or refining shapes — because let's face it, none of us are perfect! A sharpener is also necessary to keep your pencil at the right point for precise lines.

Coloring Materials

Finally, gather your coloring materials. These can range from colored pencils, markers, or even watercolor paints. Choose whatever medium you're comfortable with or want to experiment with. This will add vibrancy and life to your wave hand cartoon, making it pop right off the page.

Now that you have all your materials ready, it's time to start drawing!

2. Start with Basic Shapes

Now that your materials are all set up, you're ready to dive into the actual drawing process. Let's start with the basic shapes that make up a wave hand cartoon. This method simplifies the complex structure of a hand into easy-to-draw shapes.

Draw a Circle

Start by sketching a simple circle. This will serve as the base of the palm of your cartoon hand. Don't worry about making it perfect, as it's just a guide for the initial shape.

Add Ovals for Fingers

Next, draw ovals coming out from the circle. These ovals represent the fingers of your wave hand cartoon. Since it's a waving hand, the ovals should be positioned at varying angles to create a dynamic, waving effect. How many fingers should your cartoon hand have? That's entirely up to you! Four fingers are standard in many cartoons, but feel free to experiment with different numbers for a unique look.

At this point, your drawing should start to look like a hand. But don't worry if it doesn't yet — we're just starting. It's all about building it up, step by step, from basic shapes to the final, detailed wave hand cartoon. So, ready to give your hand some definition? Let's move on to outlining the hand!

3. Outline the Hand

Now that you have your basic shapes in place, it's time to start outlining your wave hand cartoon. Outlining helps to define the hand and make it look more realistic. So, grab your pencil, and let's dive in!

Define the Palm

First, you need to refine the circular shape of the palm. You can do this by adding slight curves to the circle, making it look more like the actual palm of a hand. If you're having difficulty visualizing this, try looking at your own hand and notice how it's not perfectly circular.

Shape the Fingers

Next up, shaping the fingers. Take each oval you drew earlier and start refining it into the shape of a finger. Your fingers are not perfect ovals, right? They narrow towards the top and have different lengths. Apply these characteristics to your wave hand cartoon. A good tip is to make the thumb and little finger slightly shorter than the others, as this is usually the case in real hands.

By now, your hand should be taking form. But it's not time to rest yet! We still have to add those tiny details that can turn your wave hand cartoon into a masterpiece. Let's proceed to the next step, shall we?

4. Add Details to Your Drawing

Alright, the fun part starts here! Adding details can make your wave hand cartoon look more lifelike and dynamic. So, what are we waiting for? Let's make your cartoon hand come to life!

Draw Fingerprints

Firstly, let's add some fingerprints. These are the lines you see when you look closely at your fingers. Draw a few curved lines on each finger to represent these. You don't need to draw too many, just enough to give the impression of fingerprints. Remember, less is more in cartoon drawing.

Add Shading

Next, it's time to add some shading. Shading gives depth to your wave hand cartoon, making it look three-dimensional. To do this, you can use your pencil to lightly shade the areas where shadows would naturally fall. For example, the underside of the hand and fingers are usually darker because they receive less light. Try it out, but remember, it's okay to make mistakes. That's what your eraser is for!

Wow, look at that! Your cartoon hand is starting to come alive. But, there's still one more step to complete your masterpiece - coloring. Ready to add some color to your wave hand cartoon? Let's do it!

5. Color Your Cartoon Hand

Finally, we've reached the most colorful part of our wave hand cartoon journey. Adding colors can make your drawing even more exciting and appealing, so let's paint the town red—or whatever color you've chosen for your cartoon hand!

Choose Your Colors

First, you need to decide on the colors. You could go with realistic skin tones, or you could get creative with fantastical colors like green, blue, or purple. It's your wave hand cartoon, so you get to decide! Just make sure to choose a color for the skin, the nails, and a few different shades for the shading.

Apply the Colors

Once you've decided on your palette, it's time to apply the colors. Start with the lightest color first, which will usually be the skin tone. Carefully color in the hand, making sure to stay within the lines. Then, color the nails with the color you chose for them. Looking good so far?

Add Highlights and Shadows

Last but not least, let's enhance the three-dimensional look of your wave hand cartoon by adding highlights and shadows. Use a darker shade of your skin color to shade in the areas you previously shaded with your pencil. This will create the illusion of shadows. Then, use a lighter shade to add highlights to the areas that would naturally catch the light, like the tops of the fingers. How's that for a high-five-worthy wave hand cartoon?

And there you have it! A wave hand cartoon drawn and colored by none other than you. Now, wasn't that easier than you thought? And just think of all the other things you can draw now that you've mastered the art of cartoon hands. Keep drawing, keep exploring, and most importantly, keep having fun!

If you enjoyed learning about drawing a waving hand cartoon and want to dive deeper into the world of comics, check out the workshop '1-2-3 Comics' by Ruby Elliot. This workshop will help you explore the art of comic drawing and storytelling, making it a perfect next step for beginners looking to expand their creative horizons.