Figure Drawing: Emotion in Posture and Pose

For this figure drawing, I was to show emotion using expressive gestures that indicate what someone or something is feeling. These sketches were done during my directive study time. Although the muscular proportions are incorrect, the main goal of these sketches was to show how emotion can be portrayed, even with minimal detail. From the sketches, we can see the different emotions portrayed.

For these sketches, I used a 4H pencil due to its light marks to help me create the basic shapes and structure for the body’s poses. Sketch 1 shows anger. The left protruding leg indicates dominancy whilst the back right leg is to promote a steady stance which indicates solidity. In addition to this, the forward left arm is hooked inwards whilst the back right arm is stretched far out from the body, the first rolled into a ball. This indicates hostility as it expresses that invading one’s personal space will result in a consequence which consequently shows hatred or anger.

Sketch 2 shows joy. The model is balancing on one leg with the other curled behind the back. When expressing the emotion joy or happiness, the most common display is to ‘squeal’ or to ‘jump excitedly’. The model here is expressing that by doing so. With the right arm up and the left arm at an angle, this shows exhilaration. The weighting of the model is also important. Because of the models stance, all of the weight is distributed onto the balancing leg with a slight angle to the torso. 

Sketch 3 shows a great use of weighting. The model has its right arm out towards the side with the torso curved. The counterweight is the left arm and this alone greatly exaggerates that the model is trying to keep their balance.

Sketch 4 shows sadness. The weight of the model is forced onto the arms, and with the head tilted at such an angle greatly expresses the emotion. Sketch 5 is similar in the sense that the head is angled to again, exaggerate sympathy and sorrow.