Gesture & figure drawing
Gesture Drawing: What It Is and How to Practise It
Gesture drawing is a quick, whole-figure sketch that captures how a pose moves and where its weight sits, before any outline or detail. You usually spend 30 seconds to 5 minutes on one, working from the largest movement outward. Start with a single line of action through the spine, block the main masses of the torso and hips, then notice which leg carries the weight. The goal is not a finished drawing. It is a habit of seeing the whole pose first, so your longer drawings feel alive instead of stiff.
Read the guide →How Much Should You Draw Every Day?
How much should I draw each day to improve?
How to Draw From Reference Photos Without Copying (and Stay on the Right Side of Copyright)
Is it legal to draw from reference photos, and how do I do it properly?
How to Draw Weight and Balance in a Figure
How do you draw weight and balance in a standing figure?
How to See Values: Squint, Blur and Grayscale
How do I see and simplify values when drawing from a reference?
Why Do My Figures Look Stiff?
Why do my drawings of people look stiff or frozen?
How to Start Drawing Again After a Break
How do I start drawing again after stopping for a long time?
What Is the Line of Action?
What is the line of action in figure drawing?
How Long Should a Gesture Drawing Take?
How long should a gesture drawing take?
A Short Glossary of Gesture and Figure Drawing Terms
What do the common gesture and figure drawing terms mean?