Life/Figure Drawing... one problem

[Sleep-B]

I really want to improve on my figure drawing, and just general everything. The only problem is... I live a bit away from the city, i'm usually the only one home (aka no PEOPLE to draw), and there are no studio's open till September... I want to improve so much , but its like a lack of inspiration has a grip on me.

I have thought of one solution, but I believe it wont help me, what do you think? If I sketched people from picture, I could get the shape of the body down, but I wouldn't get that perspective that you need. Should I suck it up and bike ride 40 mins to draw people? Or are there other alternatives for me to learn. Any tips would be great! Thanks.

[Zaxser]

All of the above. You should go as far as you need to go to draw who and what you want. You should use every resource at your disposal, including pictures. And if you really had what it took to be a great figure artist, you would be doing it already.

The only worthwhile question is the one asking for alternatives. There is no alternative. To become good, you need to be everything you can. Here's some stuff you should be doing if you aren't already.

Crack a book, there's a stickied thread in the lounge with several of the Loomis and Bridgman books. Read them. Copy them. Follow their instructions.

Google pose maniacs. Do gestures at every speed setting, for at least ten minutes a day.

And go look at some of Mentler's threads. Read his posts and notes,copy some of his drawings. The man's a smart guy.

[OmenSpirits]

Wall-length mirror, a digital camera, and WHY. OH. YU.

[Elwell]

There's nothing wrong with working from photos. It's not the same thing as working from life, but you're not going to do yourself any damage.

[Sleep-B]

Ha,

thanks guys. I know I should definitely be drawing everything I can (Which I do), but when it comes to people I've always been a bit iffy. The best to do is draw from life so I hear and one of my friends always tells me "photo compared to realism is nothing like, and blah blah). But thank you! Always need a little kick-start.

And I'll definitely check out those books you suggested.

Thanks!

[Man Made God]

Ha,
"photo compared to realism is nothing like, and blah blah).

That's not completely true. If you practice from photos, you will be better when you do actual life drawing, so in the long run try to draw people from life, and fill in the blanks with studies from photos and books.

Draw other stuff from life too, whatever you see in your house or outside, you'll come across a lot of new problems, and it will also prepare you for when you go to a life class. There's plenty of ways to practice, and drawing from a model will feel more worthwhile if you've already got some skill, so keep practicing and don't get apathetic because you lack live models.

[Kiera]

Do you live completely alone?
You could still draw your parents/siblings/friend/neighbor/roommate.
You have much less pressure on you when you draw them when they are busy with things (=gesture sketches) or when they watch tv/sleep (= longer studies)