Figure drawing according to Vilppu - Gesture

The first article on figure drawing by Vilppu (see here) seems to be sensible.

First of all, draw with your mind, not with your pencil. Think before you draw. Try to analyze what you see. Gesture is one of the most important features of a good animation drawing, because animation drawing is about conveying a clear message through a clear drawing. Body language is the first thing you notice about someone, even before you can see someone's face.

He gives a clear method (a tool, not a rule) of sketching a gesture in 10 - 20 seconds.

1. draw a circle for the head; mark the top of the head with a dot, and possibly the eyes with two small circles
2. draw an action line from the head to the hips, clearly stating the pose and intent of the gesture
3. add action lines for the legs
4. add action lines for the arms and hands

The lines should not be continuous, but still flow into each other. The lines should not represent existing lines, but rather want you want to express, what the body language is.

As a refinement, thicken the figure with additional lines, which signal the contours of the body. Again, the lines should not be continuous, but rather flow into each other.

Vilppu did let his pupils do this for six hours before progressing to the next stage. I guess I should at least be doing the same.