Kneeling upright
A front-view figure kneeling on both shins with the torso vertical and the hands resting on the thighs.
Kneeling on both shins raises the body from the floor by the height of the lower leg, so the hips end up around mid-thigh height on a standing figure. The torso stays vertical, the weight distributes evenly between the two knees, and the hands rest on the thighs with the elbows relaxed.
What makes this worth studying is the change in the base: instead of feet, the shins lie flat and the feet trail behind, so the silhouette narrows sharply below the knees. The vertical torso combined with the folded legs gives a quiet, formal bearing that works for ceremonial or contemplative characters and for costume studies on long garments that pool at the ground.
Artists often draw a kneel with the shins still upright, which produces a crouch. The shins must lie on the ground at a shallow angle, with the feet pointing back and the toes possibly tucked under. Keep the thighs vertical and the hip crease visible where thigh meets pelvis, and check the hands: they should rest on the thighs, not clasp in front of the body.
Drawing notes
- Lay the shins nearly flat instead of leaving them upright like a crouch.
- Keep the thighs vertical and show the hip crease where they meet the pelvis.
- Rest the hands on the thighs rather than folding them in front.
Pose prompt
The description used to generate this study. Copy it into your own workflow, or hand it to the studio with your photo.
Adult woman kneeling upright with hands on thighs, full body, front view.
Working notes
- A front-view figure kneeling on both shins with the torso vertical and the hands resting on the thighs.
- The key contrast is a vertical torso over a base that has folded entirely flat.
Put this pose on your own reference
Take this study to the studio and generate a new image in the same pose, or browse the rest of the floor poses studies first.
