Standing Pose References for Drawing
Upright figures where the whole body is visible and the line of action runs from the floor to the head.
10 studies in this category · 1 of 7
A standing study looks simple and is not. Once a figure is upright, everything a viewer reads about temperament comes from small offsets: which hip is higher, where the ribcage sits over the pelvis, whether the head sits forward of the shoulders or above them, and how the feet are arranged on the ground.
Use these references when you are building a character sheet, blocking a page composition, or testing how much attitude a silhouette can carry while the body stays still. Check the contact points first, then the tilt of the shoulders against the tilt of the hips, then the negative space between the arms and the torso.
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.Generate your own reference in one of these poses
Use any study above as the pose input, with or without a photo of the person you have permission to draw.
Other categories
- Seated Pose References for Drawing6 studies · Browse sitting pose references on chairs, stools and the floor for figure drawing and character art.
- Action Pose References for Drawing6 studies · Explore action pose references for drawing figures walking, running and lunging.
- Floor Pose References for Drawing9 studies · Reclining, kneeling and inverted shapes that leave the upright line and redistribute weight to the ground.
- Balance Pose References for Drawing5 studies · Single-leg support studies, useful when you want a figure to look suspended in its own effort.
- Upper Body Pose References for Drawing9 studies · Bust and half-length studies where the hands and head carry the expression.
- Fashion Pose References for Drawing22 studies · Editorial standing and seated studies with styled lines, clear attitude and deliberate angles.