THE POSE LIBRARY
Pose references for drawing, grouped by how the body works
Every study in the collection has its own page: the figure at full size, the notes on where the weight sits, and the description used to generate it. Start with a category, or scan the full index below.
Seven categories
Standing Pose References for Drawing10 studiesUpright figures where the whole body is visible and the line of action runs from the floor to the head.
Seated Pose References for Drawing6 studiesBrowse sitting pose references on chairs, stools and the floor for figure drawing and character art.
Action Pose References for Drawing6 studiesExplore action pose references for drawing figures walking, running and lunging.
Floor Pose References for Drawing9 studiesReclining, kneeling and inverted shapes that leave the upright line and redistribute weight to the ground.
Balance Pose References for Drawing5 studiesSingle-leg support studies, useful when you want a figure to look suspended in its own effort.
Upper Body Pose References for Drawing9 studiesBust and half-length studies where the hands and head carry the expression.
Fashion Pose References for Drawing22 studiesEditorial standing and seated studies with styled lines, clear attitude and deliberate angles.All 67 pose references
Standing Pose References for Drawing
- Mountain poseA symmetrical, front-facing standing study with the feet together and the arms hanging quietly at the sides.
- Warrior IIA wide lunge with both arms stretched horizontally, one arm forward and one back, giving a long cross-body line.
- Triangle poseA wide stance with the torso folded to one side, one arm reaching up and the other pointing down.
- Neutral stanceA plain front-facing figure study with the feet slightly apart and no gesture in the arms.
- Weight shiftA front-view stance where one leg carries the body and the hip counter-rises, breaking the symmetry.
- Leaning against a wallA relaxed standing figure with crossed arms and crossed ankles, resting part of its weight against a vertical surface.
- Overhead stretchA front-facing figure with both arms reaching straight above the head, stretching the torso into a narrow column.
- Wide stanceA broad, planted stance with both hands on the hips and the elbows flared outward.
- Arms crossedA front-view standing figure with folded arms and the pelvis tilted onto one leg.
- Arms extendedA symmetrical front view with both arms held out horizontally, giving an open cross shape.
Seated Pose References for Drawing
- Seated on a stoolA torso-and-legs study on a stool, seen from three-quarter front with one leg crossed over the other.
- Sitting uprightA square seated figure on a chair, hands resting on the knees and both feet flat.
- Leaning forwardA seated figure pitched forward off the chair back, elbows planted on the knees and the chest brought low.
- Sideways on a stoolA three-quarter seated study with the body turned to the side of the seat and both legs angled away.
- Seated with knees bentA low seated figure with knees drawn up and the head propped on one hand, elbows supported by the thigh.
- Cross-legged on the floorA front-facing floor seat with both legs folded in and the hands reaching down to the feet.
Action Pose References for Drawing
- WalkingA mid-stride figure seen from three-quarter front, with one leg advancing and the opposite arm swinging.
- RunningA side-view running figure in full stride, legs opposed and the torso pitched forward over the lead foot.
- Side lungeA front-view lunge with one leg bent and the other extended, giving a wide, low, ground-hugging shape.
- Walking stepA relaxed side-view stride with the arms swinging naturally and the shoulders level.
- Running strideA three-quarter running figure with the elbows held bent and the legs driving in opposition.
- Reaching forwardA figure pitched forward with both arms extended ahead, upper body and hands leading the pose.
Floor Pose References for Drawing
- Downward-facing dogAn inverted V with hands and feet on the ground, hips at the apex and the spine forming a long diagonal.
- Seated forward foldA seated figure with both legs stretched forward and the torso folded down over them.
- Bridge poseA back-lying figure with knees bent and hips lifted, forming an arch with two clear contact points.
- Low lungeA long kneeling lunge, one knee on the floor and one foot forward, with both arms lifted overhead.
- CrouchingA compact crouched figure with knees folded fully and the arms brought in front of the torso.
- Kneeling uprightA front-view figure kneeling on both shins with the torso vertical and the hands resting on the thighs.
- Side reclineA long horizontal figure resting on one hip, head supported by a hand and the free arm falling forward.
- Reclined with knees bentA back-lying figure with both knees raised and feet planted, giving a low repeated-angle shape.
- One knee downA front-facing half kneel, one knee grounded and one knee raised, with the hands resting on the thighs.
Balance Pose References for Drawing
- Tree poseA front-facing balance with one foot against the standing leg and the palms joined in front of the sternum.
- Dancer poseA forward-leaning balance on one leg, with the other foot held behind and the free arm stretched ahead.
- Raised knee balanceA standing balance with one knee lifted high in front, body upright and weight fully on the support foot.
- Airplane balanceA horizontal flight shape: the torso pitches forward, the arms open sideways and the lifted leg extends behind.
- Standing leg holdA single-leg balance with one hand catching the back foot, the knee bent and the torso nearly upright.
Upper Body Pose References for Drawing
- Chin on handA front-facing portrait with the chin supported on one hand, compressing the jaw into the palm.
- Over the shoulderA cropped portrait where the chest stays angled away and the head turns back toward the viewer.
- Arm over headA cropped figure with one arm lifted above the head, opening the armpit and lifting the ribcage.
- Side profileA true side view of the head and shoulders, where the facial profile and the neck angle carry the drawing.
- Hand on cheekA portrait where the head leans into the palm, so the face is supported at an angle rather than lifted.
- Portrait with folded armsA square-on portrait crop closed off by crossed arms, with the shoulders brought forward.
- Looking to the sideA portrait facing near the camera while the eyes and head turn away to one side.
- Hands claspedA downward-tilted portrait with both hands joined in front of the chest and the shoulders rounded.
- Forward portraitA direct portrait where the torso tips toward the viewer and the face is brought close to the lens.
Fashion Pose References for Drawing
- Look over shoulderA three-quarter stance with the face turned past the shoulder, so the gaze and the chest point in different directions.
- Seated fashion poseA seated editorial pose where crossed legs shorten the silhouette and throw the torso onto one hip.
- Arm raisedA standing pose with one arm lifted overhead, opening the ribcage and lengthening one side of the torso.
- Fashion walkA true side view of a walking figure, with the stride line and the body counter-lean reading as one arc.
- Hands in pocketsA relaxed front-facing stance with both hands buried in pockets, shoulders dropped and the torso slightly closed.
- Relaxed chair poseA seated editorial study leaning off the chair, one elbow supported and one hand near the face.
- Hand on hipAn asymmetric standing pose, one hand at the waist and the weight carried on the opposite leg.
- Turned awayA figure rotated mostly away from the camera, with the head turned back over one shoulder.
- Folded armsA squared-up front-facing figure with folded arms and an even stance, dead center to the camera.
- Walking look backA walking figure in motion with the head turned back over the shoulder and a bag hanging from one arm.
- Casual stanceA loose standing pose with both hands in pockets, one hip dropped and the shoulders slightly uneven.
- Crossed anklesA narrow standing figure with the ankles crossed and the hands out of sight in pockets.
- Adjusting hairA standing figure with one arm raised to the hair, elbow out and the head tilted into the gesture.
- Hand to hairA full-length standing editorial pose with one hand in the hair and the rest of the body held long.
- Turned fashion poseA full-body figure turned mostly away from the camera, head coming back over the shoulder.
- Seated on a blockA low seated editorial pose on a block, legs crossed and one elbow raised to support the head.
- Relaxed tailored lookA standing study with a single hand tucked into a pocket and the rest of the body held asymmetric.
- Dress with hand on hipA dress look with a hand on the hip, the legs crossed and the weight on one foot.
- Turning in a dressA rotating figure in a full skirt, one hand near the shoulder, with the dress swinging around the body.
- Crossed-leg fashion poseA collapsed base and hidden hands, leaving a narrow S-shaped silhouette with no visible gesture.
- Leaning on a stoolA tall seat with the torso folded forward, elbows on the thighs and the head low.
- Looking asideA calm full-length stance with the body quiet and the head turned off toward one side.
These are AI-generated studies of a single clothed adult figure. The yoga-derived references show shapes to draw, not movements to follow. Browse the whole collection here, or read the category notes on each page for the drawing problems that shape suits.