Axial skeleton (spine, rib cage, pelvis)

Draw the spine, rib cage, and pelvis as connected 3D forms that organize the figure in space.

What it is

Study the shapes, proportions, and typical curves of the spine, rib cage, and pelvis. Block them as a column, egg or barrel, and block or bowl, with each form oriented in 3D and connected through the torso.

The spine includes cervical, thoracic, and lumbar sections for the neck, rib area, and lower back. Show its S-curve through bending, arching, and twisting. Tilt, turn, and foreshorten the rib cage and pelvis while maintaining their volumes, landmarks, and connections to the shoulders, waist, legs, and spine.

Use the axial skeleton to establish the body's center line, torso direction, height, and weight distribution when blocking figures from imagination or difficult references. Limbs, muscles, and clothing attach to this structural core.

Why it matters

A weak axial structure can make poses feel unstable, break torso twists, disconnect the neck from the chest, and obscure weight distribution. Strong control helps you rotate the torso in space and keep proportions and balance consistent.

You can check it when

✓Block figures in varied poses with the spine, rib cage, and pelvis established before adding limbs or muscles. The pose reads at this stage.
✓Draw the rib cage and pelvis as solid forms from above, below, and in strong perspective, with visible orientation and volume.
✓Show the rib cage and pelvis rotating or tilting differently while the spine connects them through the torso.
✓Use the pelvis angle and spine curve to indicate whether the figure is standing, sitting, or leaning.

Axial skeleton (spine, rib cage, pelvis)

What it is

Why it matters

You can check it when

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