Ways to use this list
- Gesture drawing warm-up: spin a pose and draw it in 30 seconds, then 1 minute, then 2. Short times force you to catch the movement, not the details.
- Life drawing with a friend: one person spins and holds the pose while the other draws, then swap. Keep action poses short; sitting ones can last ten minutes.
- Mannequin practice: set a wooden artist's mannequin in the pose you spin, then draw it from two different angles.
- Comics and storyboards: spin a pose for the character in each panel, so the page is not full of people standing straight.
- Drama class still images: the class holds the pose the wheel picks, and the teacher taps a pupil on the shoulder to say what their character is thinking.
Press Spin the wheel, tap the game or press the Space bar. Change the list in the box as you
like: add your own, delete what doesn't suit you, or write *2 after an entry to give it double the
chance. The game buttons switch the same list to a duck race, hat, claw machine and more.
The full list (60 entries)
- Weight on one leg, hip pushed out
- Arms crossed, leaning back slightly
- Hands on hips, chin up
- Leaning on a wall with one foot up
- Looking back over one shoulder
- Waving hello
- Pointing into the distance
- Shielding eyes from the sun
- Hands in pockets, mid-step
- Stretching both arms overhead
- On tiptoe, reaching a high shelf
- Carrying a stack of books
- Holding an umbrella in strong wind
- Bowing to an audience
- Running at full speed
- Jumping with arms and legs spread
- Throwing a ball overarm
- Kicking a ball
- Swinging a bat
- Fencing lunge
- Drawing a bow and arrow
- Climbing a ladder
- Pushing a heavy box
- Pulling a rope
- Spinning in a twirl
- Halfway through a cartwheel
- Landing from a jump in a crouch
- Tripping and falling forwards
- Skipping
- Sneaking on tiptoe
- Dodging something flying past
- Balancing on one foot, arms out
- Sitting cross-legged
- Sitting backwards on a chair
- Hugging knees to chest
- Kneeling on one knee
- Crouching to tie a shoelace
- Lying on the stomach, reading
- Lying on the back, looking at the sky
- Curled up asleep
- Sitting on the floor, legs stretched out
- Perched on a high stool
- Slumped at a desk, bored
- Painting at an easel
- Playing a guitar
- High five
- Piggyback ride
- Back to back, arms crossed
- Pulling a friend up a ledge
- Whispering a secret
- Carrying a box together
- Shaking hands
- Tug of war
- Walking side by side
- Teaching a friend to ride a bike
- Comforting a sad friend
- Racing to the finish line
- Leapfrog
- Taking a photo of each other
- Arm wrestling
Questions people ask
How do I practice drawing poses?
Start with gesture drawing: a few fast lines that show the direction of the spine, arms and legs. Then add simple shapes for the head, ribcage and hips. Draw lots of quick poses rather than one slow one.
How long should I spend on each pose?
For gesture practice, 30 seconds to 2 minutes is standard; for a more finished study, 5 to 20 minutes. Many artists warm up with ten 1-minute poses before starting a longer piece.
What is a line of action?
It is one curved line, drawn first, that runs through the whole figure from head to feet and shows the energy of the pose. A strong C or S curve makes even a standing figure look alive.
Are there poses for two people?
Yes. Tap Two people above the picker for 15 poses, like a piggyback ride, back to back or a high five. Paired poses are great practice for overlapping figures and showing how characters feel about each other.