Webtoon Advanced For Newbies: Gestures not Muscles
GCC Academy
The Basics of Croquis and Gesture Drawing
Hello, I'm Webtoon artist Uksoo
This time, as mentioned earlier, let's talk about gestures
Before we start, please prepare a pencil and paper
Digital drawing tools like an iPad or Galaxy Tab are fine too
Let's draw together
So, what is a gesture?
In English, it's referred to as gesture,
action, rhythm, or flow, among other terms
Simply put,
it refers to the flow of movement of a subject
For example,
here is a star
It’s the familiar shape of a star we all recognize
We understand its shape
by identifying its outline
Like this,
like this,
and like this, that's the star
And, ta-da!
We have many stars
Then, we can see the overall flow of these stars
Simple, right?
Gestures refer to this kind of flow
It’s about understanding how objects are arranged and in which direction they are moving
So why am I talking about gestures before discussing muscles in an anatomy drawing lesson?
Understanding gestures is like seeing the entire landscape of a mountain
Drawing outlines is like examining each individual leaf
When observing something as a whole, which should come first?
Of course, it should be grasping the gesture
The same applies when drawing an actual tree
Understanding the flow of the trunk, the way branches extend,
and capturing the mass of leaves
That compared to drawing each individual leaf
Just by looking at it, you can see which approach is more appropriate
Now, let’s start practicing gesture drawing
The best way to practice this is through quick sketching,
or croquis
You’ve probably heard of croquis before
It involves quickly sketching only the essential features of a model
I assume you have your drawing tools ready
Enough talk, let's start drawing
I’ll give you one minute
Try capturing the gesture while sketching the model
Think of it as drawing a stick figure
I’ll be drawing along with you
Start!
What matters is not the outline
Not how the muscles are shaped,
or how each strand of hair is shaped
Instead, observe how the model is posing and the flow of movement
How is the back bent?
What about the arms?
What are the feet doing?
Time's up
That was one minute
It was a really short time, wasn’t it?
There was barely any time for anatomical details
How was it?
It was fun, right?
Croquis involves quickly capturing the subject’s essence within a limited timeframe,
sometimes as short as 30 seconds, or as long as 5 or 10 minutes
Through this process, you train yourself to instinctively grasp gestures
And you repeat this process over and over again
Once you're skilled in gesture drawing,
you can then add outlines, facial expressions, muscles,
and other details to increase the level of expression
If a drawing lacks clear gesture, no matter how accurate the anatomy is,
it won’t be interesting
Here’s a rough sketch,
but even with detailed anatomical muscles,
if the gesture is poor,
the drawing lacks appeal, right?
What about this one?
Even if it's rough,
a figure with an engaging pose and storytelling
is far more captivating
One of the best things about croquis
is that it provides a satisfying sense of accomplishment
If you spend just 30 minutes a day on croquis,
you can complete anywhere from 3 to 100 sketches a day
It's an efficient practice
You know those days
when you feel like you wasted the whole day doing nothing?
But then, let’s say you went out for a 30-minute jog
You may not have done much,
but just that small effort makes you feel
like you accomplished something
Croquis works the same way
Even on days when you couldn't write a single line of dialogue,
if you push yourself to do croquis,
your mind feels refreshed,
and you feel like you’ve done something meaningful
I always found the idea of replicating a subject exactly as it is to be dull and tedious
And anatomy study felt the same way to me
But croquis was the one thing I could genuinely enjoy drawing
I found it fun to analyze gestures and capture them intuitively
A time attack approach of 30 seconds, 1 minute, and 3 minutes
Drawing within a set time limit felt almost like a game
I didn’t do it for an extended period,
but I did it every day for about six months
After that, my drawing improved significantly
Especially, my characters, which used to feel strangely stiff and rigid,
started to appear more natural,
as if their bodies had loosened up
We often think that we communicate everything through words,
but in reality, we convey much more emotion and intent
through our conscious and unconscious body language
If we can interpret and express a character’s gestures with various intentions,
it will help readers better understand
our intended message or those intentions
Gestures aren’t just limited to people They exist in anything that moves
A deer,
its antlers,
a robotic arm,
a car,
even things like lava or wind have gestures
Let’s take a look at this falling leaf as an example
A leaf falls from a tree like this
At a glance, one might think it simply drops vertically due to gravity
But if you observe an actual falling leaf with gestures in mind,
you’ll notice how it sways side to side as it falls, affected by air resistance
Rather than drawing it as a flat shape,
this understanding leads to depicting its various three-dimensional forms
And if you also capture the texture of a dried, crumpled leaf, it makes the drawing even richer
Such details enhance the realism of a scene
and convey a variety of emotions
Thus, understanding gestures gives us a new perspective
that can be applied to anything we draw
At this point, let’s take a look at some basic line types that we can utilize in croquis
These are C, S, I,
and finally, the zigzag line
I have an example image
Let's take a look
The C-line represents a curved line
It can be thought of as a semicircle in a larger form
Rather than applying it strictly as the letter C,
like this,
and this,
it refers to any gentle, flowing curve
Next, the S-line
The S-line is a continuation of two opposing C-curves
Like this
Rather than being a strict S shape,
it follows the natural flow of the form and creates an S-like movement
The I-line is, as you’d expect, a straight line
These lines define rigid, structured forms
Lastly, the zigzag line
can be seen as an extreme variation of the S-line,
used to create an extreme sense of tension of the S-line
It flows in one direction before
sharply changing course
These basic lines are the foundation of all the lines we draw
Whether smooth or sharp, long or short, all shapes,
circles, rectangles, even jagged spikes,
are combinations of these lines
Although a drawing may seem overwhelmingly complex,
breaking it down reveals that all lines consist of C, S, I, or zigzag forms
For example, this is a scene
from Berserk by the late Kentaro Miura
It’s an incredible piece
Just thinking about replicating it feels daunting
But if you look closely,
the cape is composed of flowing S-curves
Like this
We see the S here
This shape accumulates to create the flow of the cape
The armor is constructed from C-curves combined with zigzag lines,
like this, C, C, and C
And the armor has sharp, jagged elements
The sword is made up of rigid, straight lines, conveying its hardness and weight
It's connected likethis
How was that?
Does breaking it down like this change how you perceive it?
When looking at a detailed illustration, simply thinking, wow, this is so complicated,
versus recognizing, ah, this is just CSI and zigzag lines
can make a huge difference in how approachable a drawing feels
Now, let’s analyze gesture in a real example
Here’s a model for reference
Take a moment to observe it
How should we start drawing it?
The first thing we should do is identify the longest axis of the pose
Like this
Every pose has a primary flow
It could extend from the head to the feet,
or from one arm to the other
Different artists might perceive these lines differently,
but the idea of finding a primary axis remains the same
This is the key to understanding flow
At this stage, the drawing might resemble a stick figure
But actually, stick figures are incredibly important
They serve as essential guidelines for capturing movement
By using these lines as a beacon, we can quickly sketch out figures in a short amount of time
Once again,
don’t get fixated on outlines or isolated details
Broaden your perspective and observe
how the model stands, sits,
or moves as a whole, focusing on these things
Here’s a new example
Let’s carefully observe the model again
How does the gesture feel to you?
It seems a bit ambiguous
It kind of feels like a C-curve, but at the same time, not quite
Is it like this?
Or is it more like this?
It seems right, but something still feels off
So which one is correct?
Perhaps, in this case, a C-curve alone
isn’t enough to fully capture the gesture of the pose
In such situations, it’s useful to break the form down into smaller parts
and apply the CSI and zigzag lines that we’ve learned
For example,
we can divide the upper body using a C-curve,
while expressing the lower body, particularly the legs, with a combination of straight and S-curves
Then, we can naturally connect the other leg
The arm might also be positioned upward like this
And just like that, we start understanding the gesture
Previously, I mentioned that CSI and zigzag lines serve slightly different purposes
C, S, and I
all depict smooth, natural flow
Now, try pressing down on an S-curve with more force
Like this
The flow transitions from a relaxed and natural movement to a tense and dynamic one
Now,
f you want to push this even further,
this is where
the zigzag line comes into play
Zigzag lines convey tension, abrupt directional changes,
and compressed energy
For example, if you depict wind movement using C or S-curves,
it will look like a gentle breeze
But if you use zigzag lines,
like this,
you get a storm or a violent whirlwind
So, for smooth, natural movements, use C or S-curves
For sudden shifts and dramatic tension, use zigzag lines
Now, let’s apply this to our earlier pose
In this pose, both the pelvis and left leg show a sharp directional shift
The ankle and foot position also exhibit a strong angle
For such areas, using zigzag lines to define the direction enhances the overall gesture
One more thing I want to emphasize is,
don’t hesitate to exaggerate gestures as you draw
If you take an actual exaggerated human movement,
like a flying kick or someone lying flat on the ground,
and trace it exactly as it is,
you’ll notice that the gesture still doesn’t feel all that dynamic
Let me give you a simple example
We're not just copying human anatomy
So, when sketching from a model,
try pushing the existing angles even further
Bend the back more,
tilt the legs further off balance,
and amplify any twisting or arching motions
This creates a far more dynamic and expressive pose
If you practice exaggeration repeatedly,
you’ll start to understand
which areas to exaggerate
to best highlight the intended pose
And most importantly, it’s fun!
You get to freely interpret, exaggerate,
and adjust poses however you like
Now, take another look at the drawing you made earlier
Compare it to what we’ve discussed
Does your perspective on it change?
Try redrawing the gesture lines with a fresh approach
This is how I would express it
What about you?
Does your new version feel different from the first?
Which one looks more convincing?
Your latest attempt will have a stronger, more compelling gesture
The better you get, the more fun it becomes
There’s nothing more satisfying than improving at something you once found difficult
Refining Croquis: Outlines
Now that we’ve established the gesture, it’s time to apply the outer contours
Remember the outline of the star
that we sketched earlier?
Now, we’re taking the gesture as the skeletal foundation
and layering on the outline as the flesh
Here are some useful tips for this stage
First, start with the torso
Some people begin with a circular head shape,
while others start from the top of the canvas
There are many preferences
And there’s no absolute right or wrong way
I won't stop you from doing it
However, I recommend focusing on the body first
because it acts
as the central structure and others the branches
Think of it like drawing a spider
It’s easy to draw a simple spider, right?
The human body works the same way
Once the torso is established,
the limbs become easier to position
Of course, depending on the pose, this might not always be the case,
but in most situations, the torso is at the core of the composition
Now, let’s go back to our previous sketch
Observe how the torso is positioned and bent,
then map out the overall gesture accordingly
In this pose, you start by understanding the torso
Observe how the torso bends
The shape is very dynamic
Once this is established,
you can attach the arms and legs accordingly
Thinking about it this way makes the process simpler than it initially seems
Before diving into detailed anatomy,
let’s go over some basic anatomical concepts
The torso consists of the chest and pelvis,
with the waist in between
The chest and pelvis are rigid bone structures, meaning they do not move
Only the waist can bend
Additionally, the waistline naturally follows a curved shape, rather than being a straight line
When I first started drawing, I used to depict
standing figures with a straight torso
Like this
From a side view,
I understood
that the chest protrudes forward,
but I didn’t know after that, so I would just draw it as a straight vertical line
As I already told you,
I hated studying for the drawing
So I didn't look it up
This was not it
I shouldn't have made it straight
The body is naturally divided into three segments
Chest, waist, and pelvis
Recognizing these three sections is crucial
when constructing gestures as we're working on
Imagine if this was just a straight line
This spine supports our chest
If the waist were completely straight
and we tried to move it around like this,
we would quickly end up with a slipped disc
In reality,
the spine is composed of multiple segments,
curving inward to provide flexibility and mobility
Another important observation is
that the chest and pelvis are positioned in opposite directions,
forming a counterbalance
Like this
In this structure, the waist,
or the lumbar spine, acts as a bridge connecting the ribcage and pelvis
To reiterate,
the chest and pelvis are rigid
and cannot move independently
The ribcage, for instance, can move slightly
when taking deep breaths or experiencing compression,
but I won't cover that here
The waist or the lumbar spine is not a straight line,
and the chest and pelvis remain rigid
Understanding this will make sketching body contours faster
Another detail to keep in mind is the curve of the neck
Some beginners mistakenly draw the neck as a straight line,
but it connects the skull to the spine
So it actually follows a C-curve in its neutral position
Capturing this subtle curve
will make people think that you know how anatomy works
That's what I think
The simpler the drawing, the more crucial
the angle of curves, degree of protrusions,
and subtle shifts in form become in conveying anatomical understanding
This applies to limbs as well
When I didn't know much about anatomy, I used to assume arms and legs
were just straight lines connected by joints
But I was wrong
It's much better to think of the limbs
as following gentle C-curves
When it comes to movement,
a relaxed, extended leg can be drawn as a soft S-curve
Like this
Like so
And like this
The soft S-curve
Depending on the pose, a sharper bend might introduce zigzag lines instead
Rather than rigidly sketching straight stick-like limbs,
applying subtle curves allows
for a more natural and fluid representation of movement
Next up
One important concept to keep in mind when drawing poses is contrapposto
It's a difficult-sounding term
It's like leaning on one leg
It's a relaxed stance where one leg bears most of the body's weight,
while the other remains at rest
Standing perfectly upright
takes a lot of energy,
so it's not the most comfortable
Both legs must evenly
support the torso’s weight
But in this pose,
or in a contrapposto pose,
the weight-bearing leg anchors the body,
allowing the hip to tilt and redistribute the load
So the hip becomes the support
that bears the weight of the body
The weight-bearing leg anchors the body,
allowing the hip to tilt and redistribute the load
Here's another example of a contrapposto pose
The same thing applies here
As mentioned earlier, contrapposto involves a tilted shoulder on one side,
counterbalanced by the opposite tilt of the pelvis
The key feature of the pose
is this oppositional angle
in the shoulders and the pelvis
Conversely, if the right shoulder is higher,
and this part of the leg, the pelvis, supports the body
There are a few things to remember for this pose
The shoulder and the pelvis always tilt in opposite directions
Like this
If the left shoulder is raised,
then the left pelvis naturally lowers
Next, the foot on the raised pelvis side must be positioned near the body's center of gravity
This may sound complicated at first,
but it becomes clear when you visualize it
The center of gravity is essentially the center of the body
So it is essentially around
the clavicle
It is the vertical line running down from the clavicle,
the small hollow area just below the neck
Once the position of the shoulders, pelvis,
and center of gravity is correctly set,
the rest of the limbs can be freely adjusted
This flexibility is what makes contrapposto such a useful and visually appealing pose
This concludes the explanation of the gesture drawing section
Now, grab your drawing tools
Let's work on a croquis together
We’ll start with a 30-second pose, a one-minute pose, and finally a three-minute pose
The time is running
Quickly sketch the neck line and torso
Don’t forget to exaggerate the leg lines
Capture the arm positions and the body’s structure
It's already been 10 seconds
Now focus on the leg lines
The leg lines
Time is running out
Five seconds, the arsm
Get the arms
Quickly outline the face
And then the neck
Notice how the torso curves,
and how the leg lifts
The opposite arm drops
Ten more seconds
Now the shoulders, the arms, and the neck
Let's shape the body
The neck falls here,
so exaggerate the chest here
The leg looks like this
Capture the foot too
Don't forget the line around the pelvis
Get the shoulders
And now
20 more seconds, oh, this is intense
Keep the arm up
She's holding a sword
Yes, ten more seconds
Oh, this is so much
And now the pelvis
And that's it
Take ten seconds to carefully observe the pose
Notice how the waist bends
and the angles form
The torso twists like that
Okay, let's begin
Outline the face first
Then the neck, and the curve in the back
Oh, that looks too much
Everyone,
when you have some time, make sure to go easy with the lines
It’s been a while since I’ve done croquis
Let’s keep the lines light
When adding details later, the strokes should be more defined
If the initial lines are too heavy,
They’ll overpower the ones that follow
Capture the waist movement
I prefer using double lines
Here
Shape the flow from the chest to the pelvis, make sure to exaggerate
A minute has passed
And here,
the hand area feels empty
Since we're going to draw eyes, we'll work on it more
And do this
Three minutes is pretty long, so take your time
Our goal is not making a finished piece
Croquis is about training
the hand and eye to catch movement
So here is the final work
How does it look?
Did you manage to capture what you intended?
This concludes the croquis session
I suggest using this method as a reference to start with
I studied philosophy, never had formal art training,
yet I managed to improve now
Let me reiterate
My way isn’t the absolute answer,
but it can serve as a useful starting point for beginners
You need to take a leap of faith and find your own style
Having a basic understanding of anatomy
is definitely helpful when simplifying forms in croquis
Simplification is only possible when you first understand complexity
Especially when drawing shoulders, pelvis, and feet,
anatomical knowledge makes a big difference
That concludes our croquis session
You might have thought it was just about sketching loosely,
but there’s actually a lot to consider
I was surprised myself at how much there was to explain
Mastering gesture drawing
is an essential skill for webtoon artists
I encourage you to approach croquis with a lighthearted mindset, like taking a walk
I guarantee
that if you practice daily for three months,
not only your understanding of gestures but your line quality itself will drastically improve
That concludes For Newbies: Gestures, Not Muscles
Thank you for watching
The Basics of Croquis and Gesture Drawing Gesture: the flow of movement in a subject Croquis: exercise to capture the movement
Croquis: quick sketching done within a limited time to quickly capture the key characteristics
Lines for Expressing Gesture C-line: Gentle semicircle S-line: Counterpart to the C-line I-line: Straight line Z-Line: Jagged, more extreme than S
Capture Gesture in Drawing Identify the longest axis of the subject Or, break it down into smaller sections
Outlining Establishing the torso before sketching the rest of the body The spine consists of multiple vertebrae that create a naturally curved waist
Only the waist moves, while the chest and pelvis remain rigid Emphasize its natural curvature of the neck C, S, or Z-lines for arms and legs
The pelvis and shoulders should tilt in opposite directions The supporting leg should be near the center of gravity