This tutorial explains how to draw anime and manga style arms with a breakup of the proportions and examples of drawing arms in dissimilar positions.

Anime arms drawing examples
Anime arms drawing examples

For this tutorial we will focus on the more common, more realistic style of anime artillery. The examples are those of the arms of a immature female character but you lot can describe the artillery of immature male characters in pretty much the same way (simply alter the torso).

Please annotation that this tutorial does non go into much detail on drawing hands. For that you lot can encounter:

  • How to Draw Anime and Manga Hands Pace by Step
  • vi Ways to Draw Anime Hands Holding Something

You may also desire to see the tutorial on cartoon the neck and collar bones:

How to Describe Anime Neck & Shoulders

Anime Arm Proportions & Step by Step Drawing

Anime arms proportions drawing
Anime arm proportions

Before yous draw arms information technology'due south a good idea to get-go clarify their basic proportions.

Though these can vary slightly from person to person (and way to style) mostly you can use the to a higher place example.

The the altitude from below the shoulder down to the elbow and from the elbow downward to the wrist is generally the same (fingers and palm are usually the same length for the hand).

When drawing but about anything (arms included) start with a light sketch and go over it with darker lines after yous are sure you take the right proportions.

Though it can get a niggling catchy it's also important to try and maintain these proportions when drawing arms in unlike positions.

How to Draw Anime Arms With Different Bends

Anime arms bending drawing
Anime arms bending drawing

When the arms bend the main modify that takes place is the elbow sticking out more and more the sharper the bend. When the arm is aid straight the elbow area actually tends to be slight indented.

When the arm is bent far enough there will tend to be a sort of "fold" on the side contrary the elbow.

How to Draw Anime Arms in Different Twists

Anime arms with different twists drawing
Anime arms with different twists drawing

When looking at the arm from the same view merely with dissimilar twists of the wrist information technology will appear narrower or wider in different places.

Anime stretched out arm open palm drawing
Anime stretched out arm open up palm drawing

Using an outstretched arm with the palm facing straight towards the viewer equally a basis yous can run into the slight variations below equally the arm twists.

Anime stretched out arm open palm up drawing
Anime stretched out arm open up palm up drawing

When drawing the arm with the palm up draw the entire portions of the arm past the elbow narrower.

Anime stretched out arm palm down drawing
Anime stretched out arm palm down drawing

When drawing the arm with the palm facing down depict the wrist "thinner" equally the viewer will be looking at it from the side.

Anime stretched out arm open drawing
Anime stretched out arm open drawing

Drawing the arm with the palm facing away grade the viewer the "beneath elbow" surface area should exist narrower but describe the wrist will the aforementioned as the base of operations example.

How to Draw Anime Arms in Different Positions

When drawing anime arms in different positions such equally the examples beneath again be sure to maintain the proportions mentioned earlier.

Drawing Flexed Anime Artillery

Anime arms flexed drawing
Anime arms flexed drawing

As this particular ready of flexed artillery is non very muscular depict the biceps popping up very slightly. You can even go out the drawing at just that. If you want to advertizing a trivial more detail yous can also give a hint of the bottom portion of the biceps with just a few lines.

Drawing Raised Anime Arms

Raised anime arms drawing
Raised anime arms drawing

For raised arms yous tin pretty much draw them the same equally the outstretched arms in the before examples. The main difference will be more stretched out shoulder muscles.

Drawing Anime Arms to Sides of the Torso

Anime arms to sides drawing
Anime artillery to sides drawing

When drawing the arms held to sides of the torso sort of similar the character is standing at attention the artillery will not be perfectly straight. Draw them aptitude slightly away from the torso past the elbows.

Drawing Anime Arms Where Parts of the Arm Are Hidden

When drawing anime artillery where parts of 1 or both arms are hidden you can apply the technique below to aid you out.

Drawing Crossed Anime Arms

Anime crossed arms drawing
Anime crossed artillery drawing

To draw crossed anime arms like in the example to a higher place it'due south a expert idea to think of the cartoon as "see through".

Anime crossed arms see through drawing
Anime crossed arms run across through drawing

Being able to look at the arms every bit "run across through" allows you to know if the visible parts of the arms are correctly placed. For example the fingers on the left arm.

Anime crossed arms see through sketch
Anime crossed artillery see through sketch

Yous don't demand to draw every subconscious detail like the individual fingers in the previous example. Instead exercise sketch like the in a higher place example to help you lot gauge their general size and position.

Anime crossed arms sketch
Anime crossed arms sketch

After ostend that it all looks correct simply erase the parts that are supposed to exist subconscious, add the smaller details and go over your sketch with darker more than solid lines.

Drawing Anime Arms Behind Head

Anime arms behind head drawing
Anime arms behind head drawing

To draw the arms behind the head you lot can over again use the previous example. Since this is a simpler pose to draw you can even but judge where the hidden parts of the arms volition exist positioned without doing a see through drawing (though you nonetheless tin if you are not sure).

Simply make sure that there is plenty room left for the hands that are hidden behind the caput.

Drawing Anime Arms Behind Dorsum

Anime arms behind back drawing
Anime arms behind back cartoon

To describe the artillery held behind the back you can however again sketch out or estimate the position of the parts that are hidden.

In this example simply make sure that the arms are angled in a fashion that they accept enough room to run across behind the back.

Also proceed in mind that the arms will usually exist slightly aptitude when they are in this position.

Determination

Arms can be a very challenging area of the torso to draw due to their ability to exercise and so many combinations of twists and bends. To avoid mistakes when cartoon ever try and continue proportions in mind and compare the size of one function of the arm to some other.

For more general cartoon tips see:

Beginner Guide to Drawing Anime & Manga

For more than on drawing anime bodies cheque out:

  • How to Depict Anime Poses Step by Pace
  • How to Draw an Anime Male child Full Trunk Step by Step