Best of ArtGym Gym: Dynamic Sports Poses —Adding Energy and Spark to Your Characters

3 Simple Rules for Drawing Dynamic Poses

Katie Stack

May 10, 2025

∙ Paid

Art Gym Replay: Dynamic Sports Poses

Have you ever drawn a character mid-sprint—maybe chasing a puppy through the park or trying to catch the school bus—only to realize the pose feels… stiff? Or maybe there’s some movement, but it’s not quite working.

Or have you ever spent so long perfecting a pose that you use it—even if you don’t love it—just because it took forever to draw?

If any of that sounds familiar, you’re going to love this workshop.

Not only will the “3 Rules for Drawing Dynamic Poses” change how you draw, but it will change how you see. You’ll begin to notice the lines of action, and you’ll be able to apply it to your character rather than relying solely on exact reference images. And you’ll learn how to sketch and explore poses quickly, so you can pick the exact right pose for your character.

In this one hour workshop, you’ll draw at least a dozen action-packed poses that are perfect for your kid book characters.

And be sure to share your work in the gallery after you complete the workshop to connect with other artists. Plus we love seeing what you create.

Here are some of Adam’s dynamic sports poses. He’s working on a book about soccer, which is what inspired this workshop! He wanted to share how he can efficiently draw hundreds of interesting and dynamic poses like these ones above.

What You’ll Learn:

3 simple rules for drawing dynamic poses (with a fun way to remember them—🎵 head, shoulders, knees, and… 🎶)
Tips to avoid common posing mistakes
How to quickly draw a variety of poses so you can choose the strongest one
How to use a line of action to bring energy and clarity to your characters

Adam and Katie were so excited about how practical and actionable (excuse the pun) this session was, that they built in a before-and-after activity so everyone could see their progress. Just look at this amazing transformation below by Arthlete Robyn Hepburn. Although the first character is super adorable, it’s undeniable that the final design is so fluid and full of movement! Go Robyn!

Look at this pose transformation by Arthlete Robyn Hepburn! The final design is so fluid and full of movement!

The Benefits:

Apply the 3 rules to any character—people, animals, or even objects
Add new tools to your illustration toolbox
Connect with other illustrators in this supportive group!
Share your work in the gallery and get inspired by what others are making

Bonus benefit: Practice! Even if you already draw dynamic poses, this workshop is a great refresher and confidence boost. Here’s what Arthlete Gunja Bhatt said during the workshop (and take a peek at her stunning work!):