Read Time: 2.6 Minutes
🌸 Get Better At Art 🌸
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Hey friend,
Tired of using my poses? Want to draw your own??? XD
Well you’re in for a treat, cuz today I’m sharing my personal super secret weapon to starting any pose right - my flexible, proportionally accurate framework so you can create any pose – from a simple standing figure to something wild and dynamic.
Enter…the “smart stickman”
Let’s break it down.
1. Start with a Line and 3 Ovals
1
Every pose begins with one thing: a single line for the spine.
This line is your guide for how the body will bend, twist, or stretch.
Break it into four equal sections. This is easier and more reliable than stacking head shapes on top of each other – especially when you’re drawing tilted or dynamic poses.
Line landmark notes:
Top ½ of line = body from the groin
Bottom ½ of line = body from the groin down i.e. legs
Top ¼ of line = middle of ribcage up
Bottom ¼ of line = knees down
2. Fill Out Your Trunk
2
Oval landmark notes:
Top oval = skull/head
Middle oval = ribcage (slightly wider than the head)
Bottom oval = hips (shaped like a bucket or downward chevron)
3. Drop in the Joints
Add shoulder joints and hip joints. These points are like anchors for the limbs.
Even though arms and legs can go in every direction, the core of the body doesn’t change much. Once the joints are in place, the rest of the figure is easier to map out.
Shoulders = go towards the top and outside of the ribcage
Elbows = should line up with the area between the ribcage and top of hips
Top of thigh = to the bottom and side of the hip (this is the top of the leg bone)
Knees = should line up with that ¼ line you made earlier
This is an example of all these joints on the full figure so you don’t get lost ;3
4. Connect Joints With The Limbs
Finish it up with the limbs
Put your feet in (at the bottom of the line you made obvs)
Put in your hands (the bottom of your hands should line up with mid-thigh )
Draw lines between your joints
Extra Tips:
Hands are around 2/3 length of the hand
The femurs (thigh bones) angle slightly inward toward the knees
You can add a slight outward curve to your shins and forearm if you wanna show off
5. See the Body from Every Angle
Front view, side view, back view – each angle has its own quirks. From the side, the pelvis tilts forward. From the back, you see the scapula and spine more clearly. Understanding how the landmarks shift from one angle to another is what makes your figures look real in motion.
6. Keep It Simple with Muscles and Bones
You don’t need to memorize hundreds of anatomy terms to draw believable poses. Focus on the most visible and useful parts.
Bones worth knowing:
skull, clavicle, rib cage, pelvis, humerus, radius, ulna, femur, tibia, fibula, patella.
Muscles worth knowing:
sternocleidomastoid (neck), pecs, deltoid, biceps, triceps, brachioradialis (forearm), abs, obliques, lats, traps, quads, hamstrings, calves, glutes.
front
back
side
These are the “big shapes” that actually show up in a drawing. Once you know them, you can suggest anatomy without getting lost in tiny details.
Tip: Stay Loose and Build in Layers
Think of drawing like sculpting clay – you start rough, then shape it into something refined. Don’t get stuck on faces or hands too early. Focus on the whole figure first.
Start with the spine line, place your big three landmarks, drop in your joints, map your limbs, then layer in muscles and forms.
Application: Practice Until It’s Instinct
At first, you’ll check every measurement and landmark. Over time, you’ll just “know” when something looks off. That’s your visual library growing. The more stickmen you draw, the faster and more natural this process becomes.
The smart stickman isn’t just a starting point – it’s your blueprint for every pose you’ll ever draw. Master it, and you can build anything from memory or reference without second-guessing yourself.
So this week, grab a sketchbook and start your own stickman army.
Draw them standing, sitting, twisting, and stretching. Keep them loose, keep them fast, and watch how much easier posing gets when you start from the right foundation.
See you in the drift,
Brosatsu
🌸 Get Better At Art 🌸
Pose libraries, art lessons, books, online art school, etc.