Compression and stretch
Show how the body compresses on one side of a pose and stretches on the other to support elastic, active gestures.
What it is
Compression and stretch show the body squashing on one side of a pose and lengthening on the other. When a figure bends, twists, or reaches, muscles, fat, and skin pack together where the body folds and pull taut where it opens.
Look for the short side and long side of each major bend across the torso, waist, legs, and neck. Use tighter curves and overlapping shapes on the short side. Use smoother, more open curves on the long side. You can push this contrast slightly beyond the reference while keeping the structure intact.
Compression may appear as bunching forms, such as a stacked rib cage and pelvis, waist folds, or a thigh pressed against the torso. Stretch may appear as sweeping lines, visible muscle pull, and more exposed bony landmarks. A strong gesture carries this contrast through the figure, not only at one joint.
Why it matters
Compression and stretch help gestures show force, direction, attitude, and weight transfer. Weak control can make figures look stiff, with matching lengths and tension on both sides of a bend.
You can check it when
- ✓Point to the short side and long side of each major bend in your gestures. The sides differ clearly in length and tension.
- ✓Check the waist, neck, and limbs for visible compression on one side, shown by overlaps, folds, or tighter curves, and stretch on the other, shown by long, open curves.
- ✓Exaggerate a pose slightly beyond the reference while keeping its structure intact. The added force comes mainly from stronger compression and stretch.
- ✓Review a page of gestures for directional bends with contrasting sides. Few figures should read as straight columns.