The PDF that Poly linked is very useful, it has a great little explainer on a good basic approach of gesture, which is what you want to focus on if you want to make your poses more expressive.
Gesture drawing is so frustrating to me, since its one of the first things we learn, but its one of the most difficult to understand and master. When we learn techniques to depict form, its easy to assume that these are the "rules" for drawing a figure and if the gesture doesn't exactly fit these "rules" then we should ignore it. But if your gesture is good, then EVERYTHING else works in service to keep the gesture. You bend and twist those proportions and forms to keep that energy you first established. BUT (again) understanding form really really helps you more easily find your gesture!
Im seeing a lot of the "bean" in your torsos. I love the bean, it helped me understand the torso and twists and turns, its an invaluable technique, but its not a "rule". A lot of your gestures, you seem to be concentrating on capturing the torso, using the bean. I think you should concentrate more of that time on capturing the mood and gesture of the piece.
Mood and gesture are not exactly a clear direction to go in, so let me try to explain. Exxaggerate bends and poses, when you add details later on things tend to get way more stiff, so go a little more wacky than you expect. Remember the line of action; its a great way to dictate the whole length of the figure. SOmetimes a secondairy line of action is useful if the subject doing something horizontal with their arms.
And if you are having difficulty capturing the whole figure, try simplifying your approach (well drawn stick figures are more usefull than mediocrie developed ones) or making the rounds a little longer. Learning a new approach to this stuff always slows you down the first time you try it, so don't feel ashamed if the pieces don't come out as fast as before.
Good luck dude!
2
Tanner
1 year ago.
