I once read in an art book where a painting of one of the Popes was shown. The author pointed out that while the Pope’s face was stern and purposefully calm as he sat on his Papal throne, the image of authority and certainty - his long-fingered hands grasped the ends of the throne’s arms like the claws of a troubled or frightened animal. If History serves me correctly this particular Pontiff did have a troubled reign which the painting and the “emotion” of his hands were captured by the artists.

The hands (or pawhands) of a subject, if captured accurately, reveal their emotional state of mind at that precise moment.

A artist should pay as much attention to capturing a character’s hand "expressions" as he does their faces.

This is a selection of faces and hands that I have given the same “emotional expression” to.