The nail is a truly fascinating structure – there are more parts than you may realize, and these elements are smart enough to grow and take good care of themselves. In just a few short steps, we will learn how to draw the parts of the nail, and discover their names – let’s get started!
Tutorial Video
Step-By-Step Images and Instructions
1.
Start with a thin black pen, and draw a “U” shape in the right of your page. Connect the two sides with a curved line at the top, and then add another curved line above this.
2.
Take a ruler, and draw a straight line at the bottom of the “U” shape. Connect this to the sides of the “U” with two straight lines at the side, and curved lines at the top.
3.
Use the ruler to add two diagonal, parallel lines in the left. Connect these at the end with a diagonal line, and then add another line below the bottom.
4.
Join the lines with a curved line at the end, and then add another curved line below this. Extend the top line down towards the bottom right-hand corner of the page, and then take a line across and up towards the top left, flicking this across to the left as you reach the top.
5.
Cut off the top left corner with a curved line…
6.
And then add another curved line to the bottom of this new line, and follow this up with another line at the side.
7.
Add a “point” to the bottom of the shape, and then bring a line across to the left.
8.
Add a line to the “flick” at the top, and follow the curve below it to the end.
9.
Add a curved line connecting the bottom to the top…
10.
Now, add two long, thin, curved points emerging from the left line towards the center.
11.
Add a “bump” to the right of the bottom spike, and then take the line across, loop this to the left, and connect it to the curved point at the top.
12.
Now, add two parallel lines inside the points, and add a reverse “C” shape to the end of this.
13.
Add small oval shapes to the top of the spikes…
14.
And another row of small ovals to the right of this.
15.
Next, follow this with a series of oval shapes across the bottom.
16.
Use a pink pen to shade the space at the right end of this shape, and the stripe below it. Then, shade the “U” shape in the same color.
17.
Fill in the space below the “U” with a bright orange pen, and use this same shade on the left of the second shape, and the loop at the bottom.
18.
Use a red pen for the stripe in the center of the loop…
19.
And then use a yellow pen for the space around the ovals.
20.
Fill in the ovals themselves with a brown pen.
21.
Use a blue pencil, and use tonal shading for the space in the center of the colored areas.
22.
Grab an orange pencil, and shade the triangle shape at the top of this, and the stripe at the top of the “U” shape.
23.
Grab a black fineliner pen and a ruler, and add a series of lines all around the edge of both shapes.
24.
Next, use the black pen to label the parts on both sections of the shape. The labels on the left nail, from left to right: Nail matrix, Root of nail, Proximail nail fold, Eponychium (cuticle), Body of nail, Nail bed, Free edge of nail, Hyponychium, Phalanx (bone of fingertip).
The labels on the right nail, from top to bottom: Free edge of nail, Body of nail, Lateral nail fold, Lunula, Eponychium (cuticle).
And there we have it – everything that you need to know about your nails!
