Master the Art of Dynamic Poses: Drawing Tips from Alexander Steenhorst

Learn how to improve your drawing skills when illustrating the human figure by hearing renowned artist’s tips and tricks

Today, we have a fascinating treat for you. None other than the celebrated artist and former psychologist, Alexander Steenhorst (better known as Dr. Draw), gives us a sneak peek into his craft, revealing how he infuses life into his creations.

Whether it's collaborating with high-profile clients like ING, ASML, and Akzo Nobel or inspiring his extensive YouTube audience, Alexander is revered for his captivating drawings and his pedagogical approach to art. Drawing influences from renowned artists such as KIM JUNG GI, Tom Fox, Mondriaan, Van Gogh, and Moebius, Alexander skillfully weaves narrative and character into his art, capturing the viewer's imagination.

This blog post will focus on one particular element that sets Alexander's work apart – dynamism. He explains how you can imbue your art with a sense of movement, adding depth and dimensionality to even the most basic shapes. His course on Domestika titled 'Drawing the Human Figure & Expressive Poses' promises to dive deeper into these methods. For a glimpse into his approach, let's look at one of his simple yet effective techniques.

Alexander starts with a seemingly mundane subject – a box. He describes the first box as 'boring' because it's just standing there, static and lifeless. However, when he introduces movement into the equation, the box suddenly comes alive. It leans, it stretches, it squashes – it starts to tell a story. The introduction of the squash and stretch technique adds life to the box, embodying a sense of movement and action.

But Alexander doesn't stop there. He proceeds to give the box depth and dimension by making it three-dimensional. He adds a line of action, demonstrating the direction of movement. A ground plane is introduced to offer a sense of perspective, while squash and stretch techniques are employed to lend dynamism. He then enhances the sense of solidity and weight by varying line weight - darker lines for the bottom, lighter lines for the top. Finally, he transforms the box into a character by adding limbs, a drop shadow for depth, and a hint of color for added life.

The simplicity of this exercise beautifully illustrates Alexander's profound understanding of form and movement. He demonstrates how even the simplest of shapes can be infused with life, energy, and character.

However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. In Alexander's course, 'Drawing the Human Figure & Expressive Poses', you will learn how to apply these techniques to the complex form of the human figure. The course aims to give you the tools you need to fill your sketchbook with dynamic, expressive poses, imbuing them with a sense of life and story.

This course is perfect for anyone, from beginners to professional artists, looking to improve their skills in character drawing and expressiveness. Remember, in the end, it's not about perfecting the art but enjoying the process and expressing your unique creative voice.

Ready to join Alexander on this exciting journey? Sign up for 'Drawing the Human Figure & Expressive Poses', and dive into the world of dynamic art and discover your own artistic expression. It's time to let your art tell its own compelling story.