Introduction to Gesture Drawing by SVS Learn

SVS Introduction to Gesture Drawing is an online class from the School of Visual Storytelling, taught by Brooklyn Walker, a character designer at Sony Pictures Animation. It teaches the gesture techniques that working animation artists use to give characters energy and life, through a series of construction methods and many short practice exercises. The class has 84 lessons with about two hours of video across 31 videos, more than 1,000 non-nude reference photos and seven assignments, and is included in the SVS Learn membership.

The large number of lessons reflects the format: short explanations followed by practice exercises, so you spend most of your time drawing rather than watching.

What You Will Learn

• What gesture drawing is and how to name a pose
• The line of action, one-line drawings and the flour sack
• Bean and noodle, basic shapes, silhouettes and negative shapes
• Further construction methods such as tornado drawing
• Weight and balance in a pose
• Hands, feet and heads in gesture
• Drawing two figures interacting

Who Is SVS Introduction to Gesture Drawing For?

The class suits illustrators and animation students whose figures look stiff, and anyone preparing a portfolio for character design. It is also a good daily practice tool, thanks to the large reference library.

Beginners may want to take Figure Drawing Fundamentals first, which covers proportion and construction at a slower pace.

How the Class Works

Most construction methods come with a practice exercise straight after the explanation, and each part ends with an assignment that applies the methods to a theme, from basic emotions to two figures interacting. The reference library lets you set up timed sessions at home, the closest thing to a life drawing class without a model.

Course Structure

The class has nine sections:

1. Introduction: what gesture drawing is, naming the pose
2. Construction Methods Part 1: line of action, one line, flour sack (Assignment 1: Basic Emotions)
3. Construction Methods Part 2: bean and noodle, basic shapes, silhouette, negative shape (Assignment 2: People as Shapes)
4. Construction Methods Part 3: tornado drawing and more (Assignment 3: Weight and Wait)
5. Construction Methods Part 4 (Assignment 4: Hands and Feet)
6. Construction Methods Part 5 (Assignment 5: Heads)
7. Construction Methods Part 6 (Assignment 6: Two Figure Interaction)
8. Conclusion and final assignment: a portfolio
9. Reference resources

Price and Access

The class is included in the SVS Learn membership. SVS lists its Studio membership at $29.95 a month, with a $300 annual option on class pages. A 14-day free trial is available with a card and becomes a paid subscription unless you cancel. Membership includes live events and a monthly art challenge.

About the Instructor

Brooklyn Walker is a character designer and illustrator based in Los Angeles. She earned a BFA in illustration from Brigham Young University in 2018 and designs characters at Sony Pictures Animation.

How It Fits the SVS Curriculum

The class sits in Level 2 of SVS Essentials, between the two figure drawing classes and the character design classes. Gesture is the link between them: once you can capture a pose quickly, it becomes much easier to design characters and to pose them consistently, which is what Posing Characters asks of you later in the level.

Things to Consider

• Time: short videos, many exercises; treat it as a practice programme over several weeks.
• Timed drawing: use the reference photos for quick, timed gestures.
• Materials: any quick drawing tool works, from pencil to a digital brush.
• Next steps: Unique and Appealing Character Design and Posing Characters.
• Portfolio: the final assignment is designed to become a portfolio page.

Start the Course

Interested in learning with SVS Learn?

Start Introduction to Gesture Drawing

For the full curriculum and membership options, visit the official SVS Learn website.

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Last verified: October 26, 2026