The Gesture Course – Michael Hampton

Gesture drawing is a fundamental skill that bridges abstraction and representation, capturing the essence, movement, and story of a figure through intentional lines. This course explores the why, what, and how of gesture drawing, teaching techniques like the 16-line method and shape gestures to help you draw dynamic figures that feel alive rather than stiff and static. By mastering these approaches, you’ll learn to depict the body with confidence, including difficult poses, foreshortening, and complex hand and foot placements.

The course emphasizes the skeletal design of the figure, focusing on asymmetry, rhythm, weight distribution, and balance across the eight main parts of the body. Instructor Steven Michael Hampton, who has taught drawing and anatomy for 25 years and worked with studios including Blizzard Entertainment and Lucas Film, breaks down how focusing on these core elements prevents weak compositions and strengthens your ability to convey action and emotion. The course runs 27 complete lessons totaling 11 hours and 16 minutes, designed for beginner and intermediate students but offering value to artists at any skill level. You can work with any drawing materials—Hampton demonstrates using a digital brush and tablet, but traditional media works equally well.