Stiff pose problem

[marsh musk]

I did this digital art a while ago. Now, I look back and noticed that my character's pose is kind stiff and the eye is little off. She is supposed to stand there to guard the tower. What should I do to fix the stiffness of the pose? is there any other error I unaware of? (mentor help welcome)

[unreal iron]

Gesture

[marsh musk]

gesture involve motion but how to apply gesture if she stand there to guard? it not like I have to draw her walk to show gesture.

[unreal iron]

Well gesture definitely helps as a base, in drawing you wanna exaggerate alot more and a standing pose can either be in a perspective or use zigzag like I show here

I hope u understand, those techniqually aren't the only ways but definitely the easiest

[marsh musk]

something like this photo (by adjust the hip and shouder) will help her less stiff? @unreal iron

[civic meteor]

Try and capture the flow in the limbs when making the guidelines.

[marsh musk]

Okay so I try to use this photo reference and do gesture sketch of it and apply line of action (red line). is this correct way to do gesture drawing?

[civic meteor]

The red line is, the flow of the limbs are as well, but don't forget the pelvis and ribcage are solid objects that allow little room for bending, instead it is the space in between them that allow bending, the only things the ribcage and pelvis can do is rotate up and down, and left and right.

[sudden ruin]

Many great pieces of advice have already been provided
I just wanna add one thing that is to capture rhythm of all proportions (including limbs, shapes, features, even clothing) as u stated earlier exaggerating standing pose basically involves hip and rib(u can also stiffen the limbs while adding gesture to exaggerate the concept of strength)

Tilting the head backwards also helps in this case

Adding gesture while stiffening the limbs involves creating strong directional force to the limbs