How to Draw Anime Arms

A beginner-friendly guide to learning how to draw a great-looking Anime Arms with easy, step by step drawing instructions and video tutorial. Great for beginner artists!

Anime Arms step-by-step drawing tutorial: step 7
Complete Anime Arms drawing

Jump to the step-by-step instructions.

Some male anime characters are known for their muscular arms. No matter their occupation, your anime character likely needs these vital limbs.

Learn how to draw anime arms with this easy, step-by-step tutorial.

When drawing anime and manga arms, it is important to get the proportions right. As already mentioned, male arms are often muscular and sinewy.

Below, we have have a step-by-step arms drawing tutorial.

Then, we will discuss the proportions and techniques for drawing anime arms.

Step-by-Step Tutorial for Drawing Anime Arms

Angry. Stand-offish. Defensive. Cold. These are the traits and emotions that crossed arms can indicate.

If you need your character to express any of these, you can use this guide to an anime character crossing arms.

Keep the proportions in mind even though the arms are in a different position.

Anime Arms drawing - Step 1

Anime Arms step-by-step drawing tutorial: step 1

1. Begin the crossed arm drawing by using curved lines to sketch the sides and contours of the neck, as well as the V-neck of the t-shirt.

Anime Arms drawing - Step 2

Anime Arms step-by-step drawing tutorial: step 2

2. Use curved lines to draw the wide shoulders of the male body.

Anime Arms drawing - Step 3

Anime Arms step-by-step drawing tutorial: step 3

3. Use overlapping curved lines to sketch the folds of the sleeve. Then, extend two curved lines to form the muscular upper arm and elbow.

Anime Arms drawing - Step 4

Anime Arms step-by-step drawing tutorial: step 4

4. Use overlapping curved lines to sketch the sinewy muscles of the lower arm. Remember - the upper and lower arms should be approximately the same length, even though the deltoids are covered by the sleeve in this picture.

Anime Arms drawing - Step 5

Anime Arms step-by-step drawing tutorial: step 5

5. Use curved lines to sketch the remaining arm and sleeve. The hands are folded behind the arms, so only one will be barely visible in this drawing.

Anime Arms drawing - Step 6

Anime Arms step-by-step drawing tutorial: step 6

6. Continue to sketch the anime guy body by drawing the curved lines of the lower torso. Contour the pectoral muscles with curved lines just above the arms, central to the body. Then, use a series of overlapping curved lines, each doubled back upon itself, to sketch the hand.

Anime Arms drawing - Step 7

Anime Arms step-by-step drawing tutorial: step 7

7. Color your character.

Understanding Arm Proportions

When you draw an arm sketch, you can use the guideline grid below to aid in achieving realistic proportions.

First, draw three horizontal lines, evenly spaced.

These lines will match the top of the arm at the shoulder, the elbow, and the knuckles on the hand. The upper arm takes up one half of the guide, and the lower arm and hand (excluding the fingers) take up the lower half.

Next, we'll consider the specific muscle anatomy. Between the upper and middle guidelines, divide the space into thirds. The upper third of the space contains the deltoid muscle.

The auxiliary 1/3 line points to the indentation where the deltoid and biceps muscles meet.

Divide the space between the middle and lower guidelines into fourths. The hand - the wrist to the knuckles - should occupy the lower 1/4 of this space.

Below this, draw another line at a distance equal to the 1/4 space above. This line serves as a guide to sketching the length of the fingers. The tip of the longest finger should rest on this line.

This reference depicts a muscular male arm, but female characters have similar proportions. The difference between male and female arms lies in the feminine simplicity. Female arms are less contoured and muscular, using fewer lines to create a slender outline.

How to Draw Anime Arms Reference Drawing
Understanding Arm Proportions reference drawing

What to draw next?

Complete your drawing of the anime guy with crossed arms by drawing a head and the rest of his body. If you need some inspiration, try dressing him in jeans and boots.

Related drawing guides:

Then, try drawing your new character with a different facial expression! Can you make him angry, embarrassed, or sad? Each of these emotions fits well with his crossed arm poses.

You can also combine the torso with faces from these guides: Anime man with beard drawing, Fantasy elf drawing or Anime character crying.

Learn how to draw anime with over 100 easy, step-by-step tutorials. See the basic anime drawing tutorials.

Easy, step by step Anime Arms drawing tutorial
How to Draw Anime Arms Pinterest Image

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