How to paint hands that don't look like a bunch of bananas

Step 1. Find a good silhouette for the hands and rough in the mid tone value. (this can be a grey or a mid-tone flesh value)

Start by getting the basic planes right. The tones are very important here, as they reveal the angle of the object in relation to the light.

Next carve out the rough shapes using the background colour. or remove the extra paint using a clean brush.

Next, round in the lighter areas

Next blend in the lighter shadows

Finally, outline the darkest shadows using a thin brush. It is unlikely that the hands have big shadows, so check carefully. Make shadows colourful, not darker.

Done. Easy, right?