Overhead Press Lift
Stack the lifted body over the base's locked arms and planted feet so the whole lift balances on one vertical line.
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Curated drawing studies · 20 references
Two-Figure Lift Pose References for Drawing
Find where the lifted body rests on the lifter, then follow the weight down to the floor. Explore a reference or start a timed practice.
These are separate AI-generated references, not recorded lifts or safe technique. Hands, grips and contact points can be wrong; cross-check anything unclear.
Loading and pauses can extend your session. Revisiting a reference restarts its timer; skipping or finishing early can shorten it.
Partner Acrobatics and Dance
Balances stacked over locked arms or legs. Look for the vertical line that runs through both bodies.
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Waist Lift in a Dance Partnering
Keep the lifted dancer light and lifted while the partner's braced elbows and bent knees carry the load.
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Standing on a Partner's Thighs
Balance the flyer's outward lean against the base's upright back: the pair forms a counterweighted A-shape.
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Standing on a Partner's Shoulders
Stack both bodies on one vertical line from the base's feet through the flyer's raised arms.
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Front Bird Balance
Balance the flyer's horizontal body on the base's vertical legs at the hip bones.
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Throne Balance on a Partner's Feet
Show the flyer sitting upright on the soles of the base's raised feet as if on a chair.
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Airplane Spin
Show the spinner leaning back against the flying partner's pull so the pair balances around the feet.
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Hand-to-Hand Handstand
Stack the flyer's handstand on the base's locked arms in one vertical line.
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Everyday Lifts and Celebrations
Hugs, shoulder rides and cradles. Compare the relaxed rider with the effort in the lifter's back and knees.
Sitting on Someone's Shoulders
Show the rider's weight sitting down into the base's shoulders and the base's straight, stacked spine underneath.
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Lifting a Friend in a Bear Hug
Balance the hug: the lifter leans back so the lifted friend's weight sits over her feet.
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Lifting a Teammate in Victory
Drive the lift straight up: bent knees, arms around the thighs, and the teammate's raised fists at the top.
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Sitting on One Shoulder
Shift the base's hips under the rider so the weight stays over her feet.
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Cradle Lift
Hold the partner's weight close to the lifter's chest, with a slight lean back to balance it.
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Back-to-Back Lift
Show the lifted partner's weight resting along the lifter's flat back.
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Boosts, Rescues and Struggles
One body pushed, pulled or hauled up by another. Find the grip first, then the direction of the force.
Boosting a Partner Over a Wall
Read the boost as one push: the base's loaded squat against the wall drives up through the climber's planted foot.
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Lifting an Opponent From Behind
Show the grappler driving hips forward and leaning back to hold a struggling weight off the floor.
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Pulling Someone Up a Ledge
Make the helper's backward sit counter the climber's hanging weight across the platform edge.
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Knee Boost Up to a Ledge
Show the step: one level thigh taking the climber's weight while the base braces it with both hands.
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Pinning Someone to a Wall by the Collar
Show the lift coming from the intimidator's bent arms and wide stance, with the pinned person's feet clear of the floor.
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Lifting an Unconscious Person
Make the rescuer's legs do the lifting while the limp body sags against her.
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What to draw first
Draw the lifter's base first: the feet, the bent knees and the lean that keeps the pair over its support. Then place the lifted body on top as one shape, and mark every point where the two bodies touch before refining either figure.
Two ways to practice this collection
Gesture warm-up
10 different references, 30 seconds each: 5 minutes of scheduled drawing time. Draw one line of action through both bodies, then the lifter's base. Available when the collection has 10 references.
Focused construction
5 different references, 2 minutes each: 10 minutes of scheduled drawing time. Build both figures from simple boxes and cylinders, then mark the contact points and where the weight goes down. Available with at least 5 references.
Questions about this collection
What should I draw first?
The lifter's base and one line of action through both bodies. Add the lifted figure on top.
How can I tell the two figures apart?
The first figure always wears dark clothing and the second light clothing, so overlapping limbs stay readable.
Can I go back to a reference?
Yes. Going back restarts its timer. Each reference counts as completed only once per practice.
Are these lifts safe to copy?
No. They are drawing references, not instructions. Real partner lifts need training and a spotter.
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