Gesture Drawing

Description

Capture movement, energy, and flow quickly. Gesture drawing trains your brain to see the action of a pose — the invisible line of force that runs through a figure — rather than its surface details.

Steps

1. Set a timer for 30–60 seconds per pose
2. Find a reference: use a pose reference app, a photo, or someone nearby
3. Before drawing, look for the line of action — the single curved line that captures the whole pose's energy
4. Draw that line first, then add rough mass shapes around it (head, torso, hips, limbs)
5. Don't draw outlines — draw volumes and forces
6. When the timer ends, move immediately to the next pose without fixing anything
7. Do at least 10 poses per session

Tips

• Keep lines loose and expressive — sketchy energy is intentional, not wrong
• Don't worry about correctness or anatomy yet; gesture is about feeling the pose
• If a pose feels stiff, your line of action is probably too straight — add a curve
• After the session, pick your most energetic sketch and study what made it work