When I can't get in front of a live model I practice from photo reference or from memory. It doesn't replace working with a live model, but if you can resist the temptation of just copying a series of shapes and think about the form in three dimensional space, photo's can be a very useful tool for us to keep our skills sharp. It's also useful for working with poses that a model typically wouldn't be able to hold.
Squint and simplify!
I'm always looking for opportunities to simplify the tonal structures and relationships between light and shadow. If we try to capture everything we see, we inevitably end up with too much noise. Simplicity is usually the key. Squinting is a great way to get rid of a lot of the noise and to find the major transitions, just remember to stop squinting before you start drawing!
Quick Tips #1 Foreshortening
Foreshortening doesn't have to be scary! Here's a simple way to think about it. I'm using a drawing done a few nights ago which I thought would make a good example to demonstrate these ideas. This is part of my thought process as I'm drawing. Hope it helps!
