Arms crossed
A front-view standing figure with folded arms and the pelvis tilted onto one leg.
Folded arms and a shifted hip change the whole outline of a standing figure. The arms close the chest into a horizontal band, the elbows drop near the waist, and the shoulders come slightly forward. Meanwhile the weight settles onto one leg, so the pelvis tilts and the torso leans gently back over the support side.
The pose is a good study of closed body language: everything is contained, the hands are hidden, and the head is the only part that still has a clear direction. That makes it useful for characters who are guarded, unimpressed or waiting, and for a composition where you want the middle of a figure to feel compact rather than open.
Draw the fold honestly. One forearm lies over the other and the second hand tucks under the first arm, so there is a visible overlap at the elbow. Artists frequently draw both forearms at the same depth, which flattens the chest into a panel. Watch the shoulder height, which drops slightly on the side of the upper arm, and keep both feet under the hips; a shifted hip should not slide the feet into a diagonal.
Drawing notes
- Overlap one forearm in front of the other and tuck the far hand under.
- Drop the shoulder slightly on the side of the upper arm.
- Keep both feet under the hips even with the pelvis shifted.
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 standing with arms crossed and weight shifted, full body, front view.
Working notes
- A front-view standing figure with folded arms and the pelvis tilted onto one leg.
- Closed arms read as guarded; the head direction is what keeps the pose alive.
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 standing studies first.
