Find the handle
Start with the cup. Its handle tells you which way Pour Boy has turned, even in a tiny silhouette. On Keith’s character sheet, cover the eyes with your thumb and see how many poses you can still read.
Follow the arms
The bend of a rubber-hose arm does the work of a line of dialogue. Trace the curve from shoulder to glove. A hand held out, a hand drawn back and a fist thrown forward can belong to the same quiet character.
Try the same gesture twice
Draw a cup offering someone a drink. Draw it again as if it has just heard a floorboard creak. Keep the cup the same shape and change only the hands and tilt. That’s the sort of acting a silent character gets to do.
