Draw a Circus of Movement: Simple Techniques to Bring Characters to Life

Learn simple techniques that will bring characters to life.

Explore body posture, forward motion and learn how to apply poses found in any reference to your character. Experiment with body language and exaggeration to bring personality and story to your character. Explore age-appropriate movement, line-of-action and gesture.

YOU WILL LEARN

• body posture
• forward motion
• to use reference material
• body language
• exaggeration
• line-of-action
• age-appropriate movement
• drawing with gesture

YOU WILL NEED

• A character design. If you haven't got a character, you may consider taking my Design a Circus of Characters class
• Draw-a-Circus-of-movement-Reference PDF
• Staedtler Mars Techno Clutch pencil - a normal B or 2B drawing pencil will also do the trick
• and Staedtler refillable Blue and Carbon 2mm Leads - you can also use a coloured pencil
• Derwent Round Drawing Pencil, Ivory Black 6700
• an eraser
• A3 pad - I'm using a Bank Pad 

TO WATCH

• Charlie Chaplin's The Lion Cage 

HELPFUL CLASSES

• Emoji Me - the Art of Drawing Facial Expression
• How to Draw the Head from Every Angle - Part One
• How to Draw the Head from Every Angle - Part Two
• How to Draw the Head from Every Angle - Part Three

BOOK NOOK

• Clap Hands by Helen Oxenbury
• Midnight Babies MargaretWild
• Millie by John Marsden
• Shadow by Suzy Lee
• Big Sister Little Sister by Le Uyen Pham
• Harry and Hopper Margarets Wild and Freya Blackwood

MY BOOKS

• Good Dog Hank by Jackie French and Nina Rycroft
• Boom Bah! By Phil Cummings and Nina Rycroft
• Ballroom Bonanza by Nina Rycroft
• Dinosaurs Love Cheese by Jackie French and Nina Rycroft

Interested in character design? 

Below is my series of Skillshare classes that walk you through the entire process of how to illustrate a character from start to finish. Use this series to either brush-up on a particular skill or work your way through, for a comprehensive guide.

Nina's Skillshare Character Design Series

1. Face Facts: Beginners Guide to Drawing a Self Portrait
2. Face Shapes: Draw a Series of Character Using Simple Shapes 
3. 101 Guide to Drawing Eyes
4. Emoji Me: The art of Facial Expression
5. How to Draw the Head From Every Angle: Part One
6. How to Draw the Head From Every Angle: Part Two
7. How to Draw the Head From Every Angle: Part Three
8. Draw a Circus of Characters: Exploring Body Shape and Proportion
9. Draw a Circus of Movement: Simple Techniques to Bring Characters to Life
10. Draw a Circus of Line & Gesture: Design a Picture Book Character From Start to Finish
11. Watercolor Magic: One Character Five Ways
12. Illustration Masterclass: Exploring Technique and Style
13. Learn to Use Procreate: Design and Illustrate a Bear Character
14. • NEW • Animal Character Design for Picture Book Illustrators: Techniques and tips for designing characters with a narrative

• Introduction
• Body Posture
• Forward Movement
• Drawing Movement from Reference
• The Art of Exaggeration
• Body Language
• Body Language...Continued
• Age Appropriate Movement
• Drawing with Line and Gesture
• To Finish
• BONUS - Body Language...Adding Detail