Slow Motion Ballet

This is a great video to study. Watch it through at least once to see the entire sequence.  On the second viewing, use the pause button to pick out and sketch the best gestures that show a clear line of action, squash/stretch, and balance.

Ballerina Sketching Practice

These sequential images of a ballerina dancing come from an article in the Daily Mail.  Try sketching each of these images while focusing on Lines of Action and Movement.  First, simplify the gesture into a bare minimum of line, then determine in what direction momentum is moving.  This should help you draw gestures that have a sense of liveliness to them.

Once you completed the first sequence, draw a second that focuses on exaggerated movement.  Scale the size of the limbs and use foreshortening to throw limbs closer the the "camera" and others further away.

After you've completed the second sequence of drawings start another that uses the gestures of the ballerina but the body type of a different character.  Use your knowledge of proportion, body shapes, gender, and age to help you change the ballerina into an old man or a little kid.

Artcyclopedia

Have you run out of Old Master drawings and paintings to sketch? Check out the Artcyclopedia - its has an amazing amount of art perfect for sketching, study, and inspiration.

Human Dinosaurs

This is scrapped concept art for Jurassic Park 4. Its obvious the artist has a wonderful understanding of the figure-the gestures, musculature, and proportions all give an impression of humanity with varying amounts of dinosaur spliced in.

While its easy to mix animal and human features together, a skilled artist can use their knowledge of human anatomy to add personality to an interesting visual. For example: the two characters on the upper right and left each give a different "read" based on pose. Regardless of head shape, the one on the left reads more animal-like based on the position of the arms, that is not a typical pose a human would hold. In contrast the righthand character holds a gesture that looks natural and humanlike. Try sketching the two characters in each other poses-study how the gesture gives a feel of personality in spite of appearance.

Photographs of the Figure, Muscles, and Movement

The Schatz-Ornstein Studio website has a gallery with amazing photos of the human body. These pictures would make great sketchbook practice.  You could copy a photo and then label the muscles you see, or you could pick a pose and then draw what you think the skeleton is doing based on your knowledge of the muscles and proportions.

Additionally the action gallery has many photos you could use to practice drawing the figure with an effective Line of Action. The poses themselves are very dynamic, what body parts could you move or exaggerate to "sell" the motion in those pictures?

Regardless of what photos you choose to study, remember to give credit to the photographer-this is their original work.

Michelangelo Drawings

Studying and copying the drawings of Michelangelo is great practice. :)

via The Web Gallery of Art

Raphael Drawings

Studying and copying drawings from Raphael is great practice. :)

via The Web Gallery of Art

Ear Reference and Practice

Click to enlarge.

from Face Parts by Simon Jennings

Animation Reference - Athletic Male Standard Walk

More videos are available at Endless Reference's YouTube Channel.

Anatomy Reference for Artists

 Anatomy Reference for Artists

This is a great link with a plethora of photo reference.  Check it out!  Its a great sketching resource. :)

Rubens Portraits

Rubens' linework is so lively, copying his drawings is great practice. ;)
via

Body Parts

The book Body Parts has 43 pages dedicated to photos of the model in a wide variety of poses.  I'm posting two of the images, I recommend picking up a copy of the book or checking it out at the library to see the rest.

from Body Parts by Simon Jennings

Figure Drawing Training Tool

Pixelovely has a really great online tool for figure drawing practice.  It allows you to toggle time of the poses, if the model wears clothing, and the gender of the figure.  This is a great way to draw at home.

Pixelovely's Figure Drawing Training Tool

I also want to point out that images have links to the sites they originated from.  Each of those sites has additional pictures you can sketch from.  Here's some of the better ones:

Character Designs
Ickylust @ DeviantArt
Danger99Stock @ DeviantArt
SeaPeny @ DeviantArt
Seraphiim @ DeviantArt
Justmeina @ DeviantArt