Every so often I haul off and do a figure study of Bridgette. I suppose you could say that all those pinups I used to do could be considered “figure studies”. Yes, I was studying her boobies and bellies. But sometimes I actually want to draw something more.
I started out, like I always do, with a head-hips&torso sketch. I still think like a sculptor, so I like to twist the figure in space. If she were a three dimensional figure, then she would be more appealing to the eye. As a two dimensional form I try to find where the camera should be to capture the image at it’s best. 
I enjoy drawing with my Father’s old drafting pencils, though finding non-photo blue lead can be a pain. The leads are soft and require sharpening often. The variation in line is worth the hassle, and the pencil is very responsive. Two years ago I ran out of the non-photo blue leads that I had stock piled. I went to E-bay to find leads, none of the stores both local and internet based carried non-photo blue lead. I found a guy in Hungary who was selling Koh-I-Nor stock straight from the factory. I bought, what I thought at the time, was non-photo blue. Turned out to be a darker shade that was most certainly not non-photo. Just look back at some of the Bridgette’s Belly comics from last year, there all sketchy. Thank the Gods for Dick Blick. I don’t know why I didn’t find them before. Hell, my Mom and Dad have sworn by them since 1978. So I have a renewed stock of the proper shade of blue lead. All is right with the world.
Are those the Staedtler pencils? I’ve not tried their non-photo blue, but love the Staedtler HBs. Always love to see your Bridgette drawings – your curvy characters are beautiful.
I use prismacolor drawing leads in non-photo blue with my Dad’s old Faber-Castell Locktite technical pencil. Theres no reason, I just like how they feel. ==:> )
Consider ink? Noodler’s fountain pen makes some delightful shades. I’m a medic\firefighter so I don’t have any use for anything but black, but I appreciate them when I shop there.