← Encyclopedia Skill

Gesture Drawing

What: Capturing a body's motion and rhythm (the line of action) in seconds before any detail.

Why: Gesture breathes life and movement; a stiff drawing loses the sense of action.

How: In 30–60 seconds, draw a single line summarising the motion's direction from head to foot.

Common mistake: Getting absorbed in detail (face, fingers) so the motion dies.

Exercise: Draw ten gestures of a moving figure, one per minute, focusing on the line of action.