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How to draw female torso
Drawing a proportional, well-shaped body may look challenging to you. In this tutorial, you will dis...
How to draw arms
Last Updated: June 30, 2026
In this tutorial, you will learn to draw arms in a few easy to follow steps. Understanding how to properly draw the arms and the legs can dramatically improve your fashion sketches and give you a big advantage in the presentation of your designs. This is a simplified tutorial on arms because you do not need to know how to draw anatomical arms for fashion sketches. I hope you’ll enjoy and have fun!
Step 1: Draw the guidelines
Begin with a drawing of the female torso. Check out the “How to draw female torso” tutorial if you have issues drawing it.
Mark the shoulders with circles. Add a center to each circle and pull horizontal guidelines. One where the waistline is and one at pelvis level. These are needed to determine where to place the elbow and the wrist.
The guidelines will help you find the exact length of the arms even when they are not in a relaxed position. The arm and the forearm are always more or less the same length.
Step 2: Begin drawing the arms
Once you have marks to guide you, it’s time to add straight lines to indicate the direction of the arms. Start from the center point of the shoulders.You can play and change those lines however you want, as long as you keep the proportions.
Notice that when the arms are relaxed the forearm goes slightly away from the body.If you draw them perfectly aligned the arms of your model will look stiff.
Step 3: Draw the elbow and the wrist
Having the size of the shoulder circle in mind, draw a smaller one for the elbow and another, even smaller, for the wrist. Be careful with the sizes- the arm should taper gradually. Use the guidelines you’ve already set to place the circles correctly.
Draw an ellipse below the wrist circle to indicate the hand.
Step 4: Draw the arms
Connect via straight lines the shoulder, the elbow, and the wrist circles.
Notice the arrow? It shows where the arm should begin from so it doesn’t look separated from the torso in a weird way.
Step 5: More realistic arms
If you leave the arm drawn like this it won’t look believable. Separate the forearm in 3 equal parts. In the section closest to the elbow add some volume (more to the inner side and less to the outer). Blend gradually with the second section and leave the 3rd section the way it is.
You can also hint at the knuckles of the outer side of the wrist.
Step 6: Adding the details
You already have the arms of your model. Now just add tiny dashes to indicate where the arm is contracting and draw the hands. Nothing more is needed!
It’s time to experiment with the directions now that you know the basics of how to draw arms. Make your own variations for your fashion sketches. For more inspiration check out “The Easiest Way To Draw Hands” tutorial.
Happy drawing!
Teya
Hi, I’m Teya.I’m a digital fashion illustrator, and I help designers turn ideas into clear, beautiful fashion sketches.I’ve illustrated for hundreds of fashion brands across the world, and I love teaching - especially helping designers see their true potential.If you've got an exciting project you need help with, you can get in touch with me here. Stay creative!
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26 comments
Anonymous
that helped a lot
Taih
Thank for tortoriel
anerj
Veryyy greattt thanksss youuu
Anonymous
Thanks so much….you ave helped me 100%…..
Sha'Nyia
YOURE AWESOME!!!!
sally
I am bad at drawing hands thank you.
aish
yaa me too
anikivance
love the tutorial!
Misk L
Thanks a lot
violet
well that was great but can you make a easier way to do it and show how to do the fingers Cuz that was hard and it wasn’t to my understandings but I’m not trying to be mean the drawing was beautiful very :D
Bigga
Great stuff and thanks!
Crystal Amano
:lol: this has helped my a whole lot thank you :D
sanjivani
[quote name=”I Draw Fashion”][quote name=”Jua”]Can you please make a Tutorial on how to draw fingers and toes? I was never actually able to draw them.[/quote]
You will have it, Jua :-)[/quote]
I’m very eager cause I also can’t
sanjivani
I tried I could make it but when I tried in arms the size of fingers become small and get messed up.Maybe I need more practice
I Draw Fashion
[quote name=”sanjivani”]i cannot draw the fingers correctly and need to learn :cry:[/quote]
Did you check the “How to draw hands”tutorial? It should help you :)
https://www.idrawfashion.com/body/body-parts/122-how-to-draw-hands
sanjivani
i cannot draw the fingers correctly and need to learn :cry:
laila
easy and good but cann’t draw fingers :cry:
Eme
:cry: that is beautiful please could youbring on a tutorial about toes
shaymaa alshawi
:-) well done thats so nice :P
Jua
[quote name=”I Draw Fashion”][quote name=”Jua”]Can you please make a Tutorial on how to draw fingers and toes? I was never actually able to draw them.[/quote]
You will have it, Jua :-)[/quote]
Thank you so much!!!!! :D
I Draw Fashion
[quote name=”Jua”]Can you please make a Tutorial on how to draw fingers and toes? I was never actually able to draw them.[/quote]
You will have it, Jua :-)
Jua
Can you please make a Tutorial on how to draw fingers and toes? I was never actually able to draw them.
byjms
Thanks and all the best. Very helpful website. Cheers
$Lele$
Tnx a bunch!!! U should post more!!!! :lol:
jessica
:lol: your website is super helpful :D thanks
Mia C
I found this very helpful, thank you!