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Last week the model at Studio b. was lit with a close floodlight, heightening the light-dark contrast. 
I warmed up with red crayon and then changed to charcoal pencil.
I had been on vacation and away from figure drawing for several weeks. It seems like I am always tighter and more controlled, when I haven’t drawn for a while, trying to be more exact, trying to get it “right”. Warming up with crayon and charcoal pencil kept me from being too careful. But I became more controlled in my final drawing, and consequently I didn’t get very much of it finished during the drawing session. I had focused on the near hand while the model was there, and to retain that focus, I silhouetted much of the remainder of the figure when I finished it later.
I have so much appreciation for the models, who often find that after 5 minutes into what they thought was a comfortable pose, the pose becomes distinctly uncomfortable, and then there they are, stuck for another 25 minutes or however long the pose is. When the model was given a break midway through this final pose, his right leg had gone to sleep, and it was a few minutes before he could walk. I can’t imagine what it must be like to sit for a painting, posing for days!
It is hard to get back into the swing of things after a break – you’ve done well. Hands are difficult, I don’t know how you make it look so easy!
I wish hands were easy! There was one pose this model did in our warm-ups, where all 20 of his fingers and toes were visible! I have to use a lot of time drawing hands and feet if I want detail. Most of the time I suggest more than I define.