Structure

As suggested, I studied the muscles and bone structure that goes beneath the skin. Below are sketches of various parts of the body I drew using images I had found in books/magazines/posters/and on the internet.

I studied and sketched different muscle definitions using various mediums. The above sketch was done using sketch and wash pencils of different degrees of softness. The sketch below was done using charcoal.

I found it fascinating studying the muscles and the way in which they work together

 to create movement in the body.  I took this particular pose from an anatomical book. Using charcoal for anatomical drawings is probably not the cleverest ideas, as it can be a bit messy, and details are not always as clear as they should be when using them.

I decided that after doing these sketches to better understand the body and how it works, I should draw some dynamic poses that displayed the body in ways you wouldn't normally see.

I found this on a postcard for a book that was being released. I think the book was about angels, hence the wings displayed.

I managed to find a picture on the internet of the image I used for this sketch. What struck me about this pose was the way in which the body was thrown back over itself. It seemed to me very dark and dramatic, but I found it intriguing so I tried to imitate it as best as I could. I'm pretty sure there aren't any models who would be able to hold a pose like this!!

I found this image in a magazine for some sort of health/beauty place in town. The picture showed a healthily tanned naked woman curled into a modest position. I chose this for it's unusual position, but also because of the amount of bare skin on display. It seemed important to get skin tone range right, as well as clothed figures, and there is no one that I feel comfortable drawing naked; semi naked is fine, but completely naked would make me feel very uncomfortable. Had I the means of going to a still life class, I think drawing a stranger stark naked wouldn't cause that much of an issue for me. It's the idea of drawing someone I know in such an intimate way that would make me feel so embarrassed and awkward.

Another reason for choosing this particular image is because of the range of tone that shapes the figure. Obviously, because the image was displayed in a magazine, certain parts of the body couldn't be shown at all, or only in part. If it weren't for the shadow in this image, you would be able to see all of the body. I wanted to see how difficult I would find it to have parts of the body completely emerged in shadow, with limbs coming out of the darkness to the lightest tones where the light was reflected onto the body.

It did prove difficult.

   

Sitting

  Lying/Sitting

Lying Down

I spent a lot of time doing these sketches, some more than others. I think in the end I spent the most time sketching the two ladies half sitting/half lying on the bed. I like this sketch because I think I had to sit and concentrate on the proportions and they're relation to each other within the composition. I also worked on putting the figures into context in regards to the objects surrounding them.
I have also included some of the quick sketches I did for this exercise, some of these sketches were done when I was out and about as opposed to having someone sitting for me; sketching this way made the quick sketches in particular natural, although it would be very frustrating when they shifted their position. I came to think of people who kept changing their posture as "shifters", and tried to identify them so as to avoid drawing them.
For these sketches I used soft materials to draw, I used graphite pencils or charcoal. The softer the better, as this adapted the sketch and allowed smooth lines to apply to my sketches which made for a better finish and clearer appearance.
I think have got the axis of the figures down well, but the last sketch, the standing figure, doesn't have the proper proportions. In fact the figure looks even more out of proportion because the shadows are too long relation to the height of the figure. The other sketches are in proportion though, and considering how many sketches I have completed so far, in particular for this exercise, my skills are improving the more I draw, and I'm learning to take the time to observe before settling down to sketch.
I have been focusing a lot on the dimensions and light and shade on figures so as to make the sketches as accurate as possible. I think I have been successful in this, especially in the sketch for lying down. It displays the shadow that defines the form and shape of the figure.