The hand is a marvel of functionality and aesthetics.
The complexity of its forms and its inherent mutability
make it a challenging but extremely rewarding subject.
This complexity can be better understood by
conceptualizing its forms. In my anatomy and
figure-drawing classes, I teach my students to focus
on only a few essential characteristics of the hand at
any given time, limiting its complexity. This method—
which can be applied to other subjects as well—was
developed during the Renaissance and has been
further refined since.