How to Draw Movement: 6 Major Tips

Most artists express their ideas through character design. You design how figures look and also tell a story through their movement and gestures. It is especially essential in the animation industry because characters should be as real as in a film. 

Character drawing tips

Here are some top tips to help in drawing a more engaging character.

• Draw a line of action
• Bring out the character thoughts
• Use contrasting straights and curves
• Draw from life
• Use gestures
• Apply Squash and Stretch

Draw A Line of Action

The straight or curved lines provide different meanings of movement. A straight line is usually quite fast, while a curved one is relaxed, giving a graceful mood. But avoid extremely straight lines of action as they provide a static feel to a drawing. 

Bring Out the Character Thoughts

Just as TV characters appear real, the characters you create should appear as real as possible. A drawing with a character acting or in motion has to give a reason for doing so; doing this makes the character more relatable or fascinating to viewers or judges in art competitions.

Use Contrasting Straights and Curves

This is one of the essential elements of design. Straight lines give a tense feeling to a sketch, while curved lines make a drawing lack structure. Artists use curves to bring out the fleshly part of a figure, while straights depict solid segments. 

Draw from Life

Drawing sketches while observing people around you is a great way to learn how to draw the human figure. You may also attend life drawing classes that usually have both long and short poses. Long poses enable one to study and capture details of the human anatomy, while quick short postures enhance one’s gesture drawings techniques. 

Use Gestures

Gesture drawing helps capture a figure’s overall message. A model poses for just 30 seconds in a life drawing class, and an artist must capture the first impressions on paper.

While making quick, deliberate lines, it is best that you only focus on the pose’s action and not on how the art looks. 

Apply Squash and Stretch

Squash and stretch techniques help give life and energy to a drawing. A character makes a stretched pose when creating a broad action, while squash signifies tension. 

Conclusion. 

This is a simple guide for drawing movement. Art contests usually require high-quality entries. If you plan to enter one, use these tips to better your movement drawing and make an outstanding piece of art.