The foundation of all figurative work is the life study of the human form. Sculptors, painters, and illustrators pull from the process to sharpen their observations, develop better hand-eye coordination, and improve their understanding and interpretation of what they see. Quick Pose: A Compilation of Gestures and Thoughts on Figure Drawing takes a look at the process, presenting first-rate examples and a brief but well-constructed text highlighted by more than 300 illustrations.

Author Erin Meads defines the quick pose as figure drawings than can be executed in less than 20 minutes. The majority of images in this book took less than five minutes to draw; their brevity encourages more dynamic poses from the model and challenges the artist to make quick decisions about what to include — and even more significantly, what not to include. Topics include symmetry, foreshortening, light and shadow, drapery, and other essential elements of figure drawing. Artists, art students, art teachers, and anyone who draws will appreciate these well-illustrated insights.