4 Goals

4 Goals when posing your characters...

EMOTIONAL

What emotion is your character showing in response to the situation that they are in?

PHYSICAL

What is the character doing with their whole body? Not just their face and hands...

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE

Serious or humorous, make sure the audience can relate or connect with your character.

NARRATIVE

The acting should feel like part of the story--when practicing posing your characters think of the narrative. Remember it is all about story.


Happy drawing...

-Professor Ellis

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Bonus Exercise 01

Draw the following 7 poses with the 4 goals in mind.

1. Trying to stop a baby from crying

1. In pain but trying to hide it

1. Just lost in a card game

1. Holding a gun for the first time

1. Walking on thin ice

1. After nine cups of coffee

1. Reunited with a lost pet

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Bonus Exercise 02

Draw the following 5 moods with the 4 goals in mind.

1. Nervous 

1. Defiant 

1. Sarcastic 

1. Curious 

1. Hopeful

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Bonus Exercise 03

Draw the following 4 phrases with the 4 goals in mind.

1. "I'll never forgive myself" 

1. "Put that down young man!" 

1. "I challenge you to a duel!" 

1. "Give me a big kiss"

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BONUS SKETCHBOOK IDEAS: 100 PROPS

Use this giant list as creative “sparks” for drawing your characters in entertaining poses and situations. Each item has been carefully chosen for its potential to give you multiple pose ideas. For example, using a flashlight: Your character could be shining it under their chin while telling a scary story around a campfire; or making shadow puppets; or signaling for help. Or maybe just trying to see in the dark — how might you draw that pose differently if your character is lost, or playing a nighttime game, or searching for something valuable?

Use this list as a springboard for entertaining poses and situations, and then have fun drawing!

1. Flashlight

1. Mirror

1. Kleenex

1. Cane

1. Flowers

1. Umbrella

1. Ladder 

1. Headphones

1. Box of Chocolates 

1. Gift 

1. Key

1. Pillow 

1. Yo-yo 

1. Hammer 

1. Camera 

1. Priceless Vase 

1. Garden Hose 

1. Crowbar 

1. Knife 

1. Back Scratcher 

1. Lasso

1. Pitchfork

1. Bucket

1. Tire Swing

1. Stilts

1. Trampoline 

1. Cigarette/Cigar/Pipe 

1. Beehive

1. Wet Cement

1. Tape Measure

1. Deck of Cards

1. Stick or Log

1. Small Rock/Pebble 

1. Giant Boulder 

1. Crown & Scepter

1. Fly Swatter

1. Cape or Cloak 

1. Gin Bottle 

1. Magic Wand 

1. Crates 

1. Handkerchief 

1. Pocket Watch 

1. Paint Brush 

1. Roller Skates 

1. Skull 

1. Baseball Bat 

1. Pile of Leaves 

1. Newspaper 

1. Campfire 

1. Flag 

1. Open Window 

1. Book

1. Pet (Kitten, Dog, etc) 

1. Bottle of Pills 

1. Barbells

1. Syringe

1. Skateboard 

1. Blindfold

1. Bell

1. Mistletoe

1. Doll

1. Slingshot 

1. Candlestick 

1. Cardboard Box 

1. Microphone

1. Baby

1. Bucket of Worms 

1. Ball

1. Pair of Glasses

1. Sack of Money 

1. Feather

1. Gun 

1. Jewel/Diamond 

1. Sword 

1. Treasure Chest 

1. Balloons

1. Map

1. Paper Bag 

1. Bandages 

1. Blanket

1. Bathroom Scale 

1. Alarm Clock 

1. Mouse Trap 

1. Rope

1. Piñata 

1. Fireworks/Explosives 

1. Water Balloon

1. Duffel Bag 

1. Padlock

1. Ball of Yarn 

1. Couch/Chair 

1. Football 

1. Dress-Up/Costume 

1. Chains

1. Barrel 

1. Frisbee 

1. Glue 

1. Top Hat 

1. Guitar

1. Phone