mid-drawing life crisis.

Quote:

Also I lack a graphics tab. Should I save up to get one?

Not yet, if you are not familiar with regular drawing method, tablet isn't going to help much, it'll usually make people more confused. >.>;; Although saving up is always good.

Secondly, I wouldn't say you are at your drawing's "mid-life crisis", because you haven't reach your "prime" yet.

Here are the books that I generally used for learning and referencing the human body:

books I use:

from the Right
Drawing Portraiture by Muntsa Calbo Angrill (Chinese edition): It is very much function as a text books that covers portraiture from historical perspective and have many example of classical portraiture, and basic tutorial in the back on how to capture the likeness of the person in which you are drawing. There are example of basic body constructions but mainly focused on the facial features.

Barron's Anatomy for the Artist : A very small, but handy books in terms of quick references when it comes to drawing musculatures and some pretty essential body construction methods which was demonstrated in various cases.

Drawing Portraitures By 木村秀治 and 田中豐美 (Chinese Edition): Very focused on the capturing the facial feature of the person in which you are sketching, and demonstrate in-depth sketching techniques when it comes to drawing people's faces in various expression, age and genders. It has lots and lots of photos that can be use for such practice in the book.

Drawing the Human Body ~ an Anatomical Guide by Giovanni Civardi: In-depth explanation and example of morphology of various human parts, mainly focused on musculature and skeletal menifestation on the surface, mainly, it also has many example of how certain angle of human body is expressed. Mostly for referencing more difficult to draw angles and learning the limits on human morphology.

last but not least:

nude figure:

The Nude Figure ~ A visual Reference for the Artist By Mark Edward Smith: This is a pose book, in other words, for artist who wants to find a point of references for his or her characters making special poses, it possible to find example of how a person move, at least partially, in this book, from various angles. Although this book is also good for classical studies too, however, it is mainly gear towards when live studio session isn't available.

Otherwise you could always go for Andrew Loomis' books, which is just as good. :3 Although if you are trying to buy those, it can get expensive. I wonder what happend to the Online version...

One of the more general advice that I can give is, draw a lot, and draw from life. If you see something interesting, like a building or tree or a car or something, you might want to try and put it on paper. Considering that the principle of how to construction something on paper is actually very similar all around, human body is no different. Once you have a good grasp of how to draw just about how to draw everyday objects, its easier for you to grasp how to draw human bodys too.

Jam it back in, in the dark.