Figure gesture

Gesture drawing captures the action and feeling of a pose rather than its details. It trains you to see the whole figure at once and makes your finished drawings look alive instead of stiff.

Step by step

1. Start with the line of action: one sweeping curve (often a C or S) that runs through the whole pose.
2. Add the tilt of the shoulders and the tilt of the hips. In a standing pose they usually tilt in opposite directions (contrapposto).
3. Indicate the head, rib cage and pelvis as simple shapes and connect them along the line of action.
4. Add limbs as single lines or tubes, paying attention to which leg carries the weight.
5. Work fast: 30 seconds to 2 minutes per pose. Speed forces you to leave out detail.
6. Exaggerate a little — pushing the curve makes the pose read more clearly.