A hand model is a person who

models A model is an informative representation of an object, person or system. The term originally denoted the plans of a building in late 16th-century English, and derived via French and Italian ultimately from Latin ''modulus'', a measure. Models c ...

(poses or displays) their hand or hands for the purposes of

art Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas. There is no generally agreed definition of wha ...

fashion Fashion is a form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and in a specific context, of clothing, footwear, lifestyle, accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body posture. The term implies a look defined by the fashion in ...

product Product may refer to: Business * Product (business), an item that serves as a solution to a specific consumer problem. * Product (project management), a deliverable or set of deliverables that contribute to a business solution Mathematics * Produ ...

s or

advertising Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a product or service. Advertising aims to put a product or service in the spotlight in hopes of drawing it attention from consumers. It is typically used to promote a ...

. Hand models are used in

where advertisers want close ups of the product being handled. Most hands have blemishes such as scrapes,

scar A scar (or scar tissue) is an area of fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin after an injury. Scars result from the biological process of wound repair in the skin, as well as in other organs, and tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a na ...

s, spots, or discolorations which would stand out in a close up and detract from the product. Hand models tend to have flawless skin and hands. In female hand models agents often seek long, slender hands and fingers and long

nail beds A nail is a claw-like plate found at the tip of the fingers and toes on most primates. Nails correspond to the claws found in other animals. Fingernails and toenails are made of a tough protective protein called alpha-keratin, which is a polymer ...

. They also value smooth, hairless, unblemished skin with minimal wrinkles and visible pores. Requirements for male hand models vary, depending on whether the job calls for a burly,

construction worker A construction worker is a worker employed in the physical construction of the built environment and its infrastructure. Definition By some definitions, workers may be engaged in manual labour as unskilled or semi-skilled workers; they may be sk ...

type hand or a more white-collar look. For print media hand models, a necessary trait is the ability to pose in a relaxed, graceful fashion. Professional hand models avoid what

photographer A photographer (the Greek language, Greek φῶς (''phos''), meaning "light", and γραφή (''graphê''), meaning "drawing, writing", together meaning "drawing with light") is a person who makes photographs. Duties and types of photographe ...

s call "the claw," the rigid grip that novices often use before the camera. Hand models are prevalent in

TV commercial A television advertisement (also called a television commercial, TV commercial, commercial, spot, television spot, TV spot, advert, television advert, TV advert, television ad, TV ad or simply an ad) is a span of television programming produce ...

s, although the hand may not always be visible. Many food commercials have hand models pouring gravy, dipping a French fry or cutting meat. Here perfect hands are not as important as the timing and patience required to "hit one's mark." Some hand models can make upwards of $1,200 a day. For TV work, premiere parts models are paid $1,000 per day and for print work can make $2,000 - $5,000 per day. Many parts models and hand models work part-time as freelancers, but some models like

Karina Nelson Karina may refer to: People *Karina (name), a female given name (including a list of people with the given name) *Karina (American singer) (born 1991) *Karina (Spanish singer) (born 1946) *Karina (Venezuelan singer) (born 1968) *Elda Neyis Mosquer ...

and

Adele Uddo Adele Uddo is an American parts model who promotes brands and doubles for celebrities. Early life and education Uddo grew up in a California commune. She dropped out of college to pursue a modeling career. Career As a parts model, Uddo is mo ...

are booked full-time.

Hand art

Hand art is the application of

make-up Cosmetics are constituted mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones. Cosmetics have various purposes. Those designed for personal care and skin care can be used to cleanse or protect ...

or paint to a hand to make it appear like an animal or other object. Some hand artists, like

Guido Daniele Guido Daniele (born 1950) is a hyperrealist artist who lives and works in Milan, Italy. Early years and education Daniele was born in Soverato, Calabria in Italy. In 1972, he graduated from Brera School of Arts, majoring in sculpture and then att ...

, produce images that are ''

trompe-l'œil ''Trompe-l'œil'' ( , ; ) is an artistic term for the highly realistic optical illusion of three-dimensional space and objects on a two-dimensional surface. ''Trompe l'oeil'', which is most often associated with painting, tricks the viewer into ...

'' representations of wild animals painted on people's hands. Hand artists work closely with hand models. Models can be booked through specialist acting and modeling agencies usually advertising under "body parts models" or "hands and feet models." Many hand models can be hired directly.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Faces behind hand models
Modeling (profession) Models by type of modeling Hand