Figuring out Figures with Tommy van Auken

Update: pictures added!!

My art class invited Tommy van Auken to do figure drawing with us. He showed us a way of drawing figures that was very new to me. The idea was to focus on the space inside a figure, rather than the outlines. He also talked about drawing along the cross sections of the figure to show depth. It was really informative for me. I will definitely be drawing along the cross section in the future. Comparing my first figure drawing to my last, it's clear the last one is better at showing the form of the figure.

In the future, I'd like to work on getting the proportions of a figure good before I start the details. Additionally, I should try using a lighter mark. Being able to correct past mistakes is important in getting proportions right. This is impossible with a dark mark. I think the best way to improve both of these is just practicing with these purposes in mind.