Critique & Redline - Anatomy/Pose help, Please?

- Kyrahlynn
- is a regular
- Evil Mastermind
- Apprentice
I'm trying to do a picture that, while the piece itself will be simple, involves a pose that's slightly awkward- it's a sort of almost-frenzied sword-wielding pose. I've done the pose several times myself to get the feel for it, and it works for what I'm doing, but I'm having issues sketching it. So, I did these two gesture sketches to work it out; each one has a slight variation on the left leg- I'm not quite sure how I want it to look. That aside, I think I've pretty much got it how I want, but if someone could double check the anatomy of the pose(s), that'd be great, and I'd really like opinions on which of the two poses would be better to use :D (It's the legs that are mostly the awkward part, but it's supposed to be like she's in mid-swing and isn't really paying attention to proper stance. Who pays attention to stance when they're excited? XD) And I'm still playing around with the arms a bit- any suggestions are welcome :D

(And ignore the head, I'm still working that part out XD)

Thanks!

*edit* ack- I just realized the one knee on the right sketch is a bit high. Ignore that too XD)

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Kyn
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I think the B stance is more dramatic.

Another idea--not sure how well it would work, but might be fun to play with, is to pull the character's left leg in/under her more, and to arch her body even more, almost as though she is losing her balance in the whole frenzied sword wielding situation. Also, I'd bring the left arm up/out more into a more action-friendly pose, but like you said, you're still working on the arms.

But yeah, of the two poses you have up, B is definitely more dramatic. I kinda think A is artistically awkward.

"...Your good opinion is rarely bestowed, and therefore more worth the earning." --Mr. Darcy

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Kyrahlynn
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I think you're right- B is the better one to use. I sketched out A first, and it looked fine anatomically, but it didn't quite seem dramatic enough; when I sketched out B (copied the A sketch, erased the one leg and sketched it XD) I was unsure whether it was too anatomically awkward or not. But I think it works^^ I also like the idea of playing up the pose a bit more- I don't quite want it to look like she's falling, but pulling the left leg back and arching her body a bit more would probably help make it more dynamic. Thanks for your help!

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Kyn
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No problem! Hope you get it worked out the way you want. =)

"...Your good opinion is rarely bestowed, and therefore more worth the earning." --Mr. Darcy

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Nocte
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Kyrahlynn said: And I'm still playing around with the arms a bit- any suggestions are welcome :D

I'd suggest twisting the upper body (and posing the arms accordingly) to add more force to the swing, a bit like this;

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Kyrahlynn
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That's definitely the sort of position I want the arms at- though I don't think I'll twist the torso quite so far, since I want her to be facing forward. But I think adding a little bit more of a twist like that is a good idea^^ Thank you very much, I have a much clearer picture of what I'm going for now! :D

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Vizon
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I dunno...sketch #2's feet seem to throw the figure way off balance. Even through actions, one shouldn't be unbalanced, unless they are not very skilled. If, after one swipe, you're forced to adjust your footing to stay standing, you're not going to have much control over your next move, see. Also, photos lie. Never work from just one and use it more for inspiration if you can. Flow and balance are important in art to clearly convey your action (as well as a little exaggeration), and most photos are not so great at capturing an overall 'feel' or impression, as they are more apt to capture that awkward moment with your mouth open and your eyes crossed (though that's not what you normally look like). When someone is moving, their whole body goes with the flow of that motion. And even when someone is balanced on one foot, they are leaning into the direction they are moving, and the rest of their body is following along (including the other foot which will catch the body in the next step). Let me see if I can give you some samples of awkward, yet balanced poses (and in motion - particularly mid-action or mid-strike with a weapon):

Here the woman is in the midst of striking someone with her weapon, and her pose is a bit awkward, yet you can tell she is in control of her body.

Here she is in mid-strike again - a more dynamic angle, but see how her feet are firmly planted so that she is stable during the hit?

Like this - again, feet are firmly planted while the upper body can bend and do all kinds of things.

This same balance can be applied while in motion - see how he is leaning into the movement, but his body is following that motion - the feet are not at strange angles nor are the legs out of line with the flow of the motion.

Another body that is all focused in one direction - you can see the line of action and where the body is moving and where the focus is.

Here is a more awkward pose in motion - yet the head is still balanced directly above the planted foot and the direction the body is moving is apparent due to perspective and the angles of the limbs.

"Wherever there is a corpse, there the vultures will gather."
- Jesus Christ

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Kyrahlynn
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Wow, lots of info! Only thing is, while it may look off balance, in a way that's sort of what I'm going for- it's like she just came running/leaping into the picture (from the side, and that would explain why the one foot is at that angle- to brace herself as she stopped), and brandished her sword (and to be honest, I'm not even quite sure why I want it that way- this whole piece just randomly came to me while I was listening to a song XD.) She's not actually about to hit someone, it's more of a show of rebellion. What I'm doing is a sort of whacked-out St. Patrick's Day pic, themed to the song "The Wearing of the Green," and I'm possibly even going to add in a broken noose around the character's neck. She'll be wearing a green dress/tunic with Celtic patterns on it as well (and I must sound like a nut explaining this XD.)

Actually, I haven't used any photo refs- I tried to get some, but none of them worked out right (plus I'm not much of a model XD.) Everything I've done to try and figure out the pose has purely been me checking to make sure no one's watching, and then doing it myself ;)

But thank you for posting everything you did, I think I just learned something ;D

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Vizon
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But - but - I'm saying it doesn't look like she's just completed an action - it looks like someone stiffly posing. It's missing the curve - even if she's coming to a stop, her body should be curved to show the line of action that's being brought to a stop. As it is, she is very stiff and straight but with wonky angled feet. Hmm...like see this dog is coming to a stop and its body is angled/leaning back to help curtail the force of the forward movement by changing the balance and utilizing gravity/physics to stop that forward motion.

I'm just saying, it could use some flow or some angles/curves to help convey action. And even when someone is coming to an abrupt stop their feet are not bent at odd angles unless they're about to topple over or have twisted an ankle. I will attach some quick sketches of what I'm thinking. The first is more of a skid and the second is more planted.

"Wherever there is a corpse, there the vultures will gather."
- Jesus Christ

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Coyox
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- Companion
I do believe I have to agree with Vizon on this one.

While the positions you have shown are great, they are really missing a line of action. Action works side by side with balance and gravity. If there is nothing to throw it off balance, than gravity would not do so. One of the most difficult things to look at in art are things that are stiff. And I see loads of it all the time. If you draw your character in the first positions you've shown it is more of a "pose". Have you ever done figure drawing? This actually looks like something you might see. Only more pidgeon toed.

However in Vizon's drawings there is a very hearty line of action, this is what makes art move. Line of action is a very very fun thing to work with. And I'm not sure how far along in schooling they start teaching it (psht, I'm only eighteen) but I know I have a couple books on it and it is just so fun! It makes you want to sketch for hours.

And sorry if it sounds like I'm repeating anything, I tried to read over the thread.

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Kyn
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Yeah, V does bring up some good points about motion. Might be worth playing with and seeing what you like.

"...Your good opinion is rarely bestowed, and therefore more worth the earning." --Mr. Darcy

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Kyrahlynn
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Vizon:

Now I see what you mean! Not sure why I didn't quite get it before ('twas early morning, I'll blame that XD.) The way you placed the feet in the redlines, particularly in the second one, make much more sense to me than the way I originally had them- the pose looks a lot more balanced and believable. As soon as I get the chance, I'll resketch the gesture and post it here to make sure I'm on the right track before starting the actual piece. Thank you- I think the visual really helped me understand^^

Coyox:

Have you ever done figure drawing?

I've done some, but not nearly as much as I'd like. I'm planning to do a bunch this summer to help improve my skills in that area.

Now that I think about it, I really haven't used a line of action in awhile. I know I've done it a little before, but that's probably another thing I should work on. I can't recall ever being taught about them in school, though I do know about them thanks to some drawing books I have.

I have a couple books on it and it is just so fun!

Could you recommend a few titles? I'd be interested in looking into getting some :D

Thank you both!

Might be worth playing with and seeing what you like.

That I shall do! ;D

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Nocte
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Kyrahlynn said: Only thing is, while it may look off balance, in a way that's sort of what I'm going for- it's like she just came running/leaping into the picture (from the side, and that would explain why the one foot is at that angle- to brace herself as she stopped), and brandished her sword (...)

I have completely misinterpreted the first sketch then; I thought she was just standing there, in a somewhat clumsy position. If she comes to a halt like you described, the way I posed the arms won't work. (Vizon has already given tons of excellent advice and sketches, but if you'd like I can redo it. :) )

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Kyrahlynn
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My fault- I probably should've been more specific about what I was aiming for in my very first post. But with all the great advice I've been given, I think I'm set- I'm planning to work from the original pose B, but twist her upper body a bit more (as you suggested) and balance her better on her feet as Vizon suggested. Once I find some time I'll resketch it, and as mentioned above will post again here in case I manage to skew the pose too much again XD

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Coyox
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- Companion
You'll definitely want to go to a bookstore to look through the books first, because of course, each book has something good to offer. By looking through them you can see how thick it is and if the illustrations are what you want.

Some that I own:
How to Draw the Human Figure with Victor Ambrus
The Complete Guide to Figure Drawing by Anthony Ryder (Try to find this one, it is the most useful book for figure drawing I have on hand)

If you go to your book store you should be able to find plenty. And I have to sit and stare for a while.

Consider a few questions:

Does the book have mostly female or male figures? You should want one with both.

Does the book show shading or just line art? More shading is always good.

Does the book cover lines of action? If you see little red lines everywhere in one section of the book it porbably does, don't get a book without lines of actions discussed or you'll be sad if thats what you want to see.

Is the artist who did the book know what they are talking about? I've come across some pretty horrible books. The faces were weird, and the bodies were actually out of proportion. If you have to, go in with a couple photos. Even some of the published artists do not know what they are thinking.

ALthough buying a book as you might know is altogether very simple. Just some tips!

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Kyrahlynn
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Thank you very much! I'll keep this all in mind next time I head to the bookstore :D

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Bazjra
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Try this for a photo reference. It's at the wrong angle, but a similar pose.

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Bazjra
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- Apprentice
And another with a better angle.

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
- Kyrahlynn
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ooh, those are nice, especially that second one! Thanks for posting them^^

posted 2 years, 6 months ago

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