This tutorial will show you how to draw manga- and anime-style arms. It also includes a breakdown of proportions and illustrations of arms in various positions.
This tutorial will be about the more popular and more realistic anime arms. These are the arms for a young female character, but you can also draw arms for young male characters using the same technique (just change the body).
This tutorial doesn’t go into too much detail about drawing hands. You can find this tutorial:
- Step by step Drawing Manga and Anime Hands
- How to Draw an Anime Hand Holding Something
You might also like to check out the tutorial on drawing neck and collar bones.
How To Draw an Anime Neck and Shoulders
How to Draw Anime Characters Tutorial
Step by Step Drawing & Anime Arm Proportions
It’s a good idea first to analyze the basic proportions of your arms before you begin drawing them.
These can be slightly different from person to person and style to style, but you can generally use the example above.
It is common for the distance between below the shoulder and the elbow to be the same. The elbow to the wrist is usually shorter than the elbow.
Draw anything, including arms. Start with a sketch. Then add darker lines to it.
It can be a bit tricky, but it is important to keep these proportions in mind when drawing arms from different positions.
Drawing Anime Arms with Different Bends
The main effect of bending the arms is for the elbow to stick out more as the bend gets more severe. The elbow area tends to be slightly indented when the arm is straight.
If the arm is bent too far, there will be a “fold” to the side opposite the elbow.
Drawing Anime Arms with Different Twists
The arm will appear wider or narrower depending on how you view it from the same perspective, but different twists of your wrist.
As a base, place your palm in front of the viewer and extend your arm out. You can then see the variations below.
Draw the entire arm from the palm up.
Draw the arm with the palm facing downward. The wrist should be “thinner” because the viewer will be viewing it from the side.
The arm should be drawn with the palm facing away from the viewer. However, the “below elbow” area should not be as narrow. Draw the wrist the same way as the base.
Drawing Anime Arms in Different Positions
Remember to keep the proportions in mind when drawing anime arms in various positions, such as the ones shown below.
Drawing Flexed Anime Arms
Draw the biceps slightly, as this particular set of flexed arm muscles isn’t very muscular. The drawing can be left as is. You can add a hint to the bottom of your biceps by adding just a few lines.
Drawing Raised Anime Arms
You can draw raised arms the same way as for the outstretched arms. You will notice a more stretched shoulder muscle.
Drawing Anime Arms to the Sides of Your Body
Draw the arms with the hands on the sides of your body, so that they look like you are standing in front of them. Draw them slightly bent at the elbows.
Drawing anime arms where parts of the arm are hidden
The technique below can be used to draw anime arms with parts hidden.
Drawing cross-ed anime arms
It’s a good idea, as in the above example, to draw crossed arms of anime like “see-through”.
The ability to see through the arms allows you to determine if they are properly placed. The fingers are on the left arm, for example.
It doesn’t matter if you draw every detail, like the fingers in the previous example. To estimate their size and location, you can sketch as in the previous example.
Once you are satisfied that everything looks good, simply erase any parts that were not intended to be there. Add the small details and then go back over the sketch with darker lines.
Drawing Anime Arms Behind Head
You can use the same example to draw the arms behind your head. This pose is easier to draw. You can also estimate the position of the hidden arms without having to do a detailed drawing.
Make sure there’s enough space for your hands behind the head.
Drawing Anime Arms behind the Back
You can draw or estimate the positions of hidden parts by drawing the arms behind your back.
Simply ensure that your arms are straight so that they meet behind your back.
Remember that your arms will be slightly bent if you are in this position.
Conclusion
Because of their flexibility, arms can be difficult to draw. Keep in mind the proportions and compare the sizes of each arm to avoid making mistakes.
You can find more drawing tips here:
Beginner Guide to Drawing Anime & Manga
You can find more information about drawing anime bodies at:
- Step by Step Drawing Anime Poses
- Step by step Drawing an Anime Boy Full-Body
