Reaching ForwardPose Reference

The closest hand is the visual invitation into this gesture. Its arm travels away from the chest toward the viewing direction, so the upper arm and forearm can occupy less picture space than their actual lengths suggest. Behind that reach, the torso rotates and the opposite arm stays nearer the side. The legs cross beneath the offset pelvis, providing a restrained lower rhythm that contrasts with the active hand. Think of the pose as two connected movements: a quiet shift through the feet and hips, followed by a much more assertive projection through the shoulder.

Foreshortening is the main drawing problem. Mark the near hand first, then locate the elbow and shoulder behind it instead of building a long sideways arm and rotating it mentally afterward. The front angle emphasizes compression; a side angle reveals how far the wrist actually sits in front of the rib cage. Comparing these views helps separate genuine limb length from apparent size. The wooden hand is a simplified rigged shape, not a detailed spread of five anatomical fingers, so use its direction and silhouette as the primary evidence. An exaggerated palm size should come from perspective, not an unexplained change in anatomy.