Here's another willow drawing! (4 & 1/2 hour ) I'm happy with the lay-in; I felt like I did it efficiently and that I solved some drawing problems (the head) pretty well. Though, in the transition stage I loose control. It's a tricky medium and I have to learn to control the edges better. I feel like I've got what I wanted out of this exercise; a clear process to follow that works in many cases. What I plan to do next is to practice doing value studies. I feel like poor value grouping is what's hindering me the most when I try to draw something, at the moment. I might return to this exercise, maybe with the willow, though I think I'll use the conté instead. Cheers!

Wow, @Jesper Axelsson, to me, it’s an awesome job. I’m not familiar with Todorovitch’s method, but I see you have a strong sense of shape design in the overall shading. Also, I like how you handled the anatomy, hinting it through the edges and avoiding a very literal description. I agree with @paper in the point that the background may have become a bit too heavy in the final stage. But, even so, the bold shapes of the butt and lower back shadows don’t get me confused as to where to look at, I’m drawn straight there. As a fan of a more graphic stylization myself, I gotta say I love images 2 and 3! And as a “gesture-first” mind, what mainly stands out to me is that I see some room for you to push the gesture a bit more! :) In fact, I believe you did improve the gesture already throughout the process, as it seems to look better in the final than in the first stage. Also, I’m curious! You had mentioned Todorovitch’s course is about making drawings that will more easily translate into paintings later on, did I get that right? So, was this supposed to be a study for a painting? I’m interested about what aspects would differ if this drawing was thought out as just a drawing and if it was designed as a study for a painting. Keep up the good work! 🙌🏻

Hello! I think your process isn't bad in anyways, just if you do the big things, to remember to come back to the small ones later. One thing that I've found quite helpful to me, is when I get to the final stages of a picture I'll make a list of what I want to work on in order. This is so I don't forget anything, and also so I have confidence when working in an area, knowing I'll get to the next one. I think there is still great value in doing the cycles things, just making it your own cycle (you don't always have to start with the head and work down). On that note I tend to start on the area that is the simplest, as it will warm me up before I tackle more difficult areas. For critique on the drawing itself, I think you did a fantastic job capturing the proportion and your blending out of the shadows into the halftone really captures form! I'd just make sure to continue that blending as the shadow turns over to reflected light. Although there is great merit in simple shadow statements so it all really depends on what you're going for! Very good job!

On the topic if you are following a good process,yes I think so,You made an excellent drawing with very beautfiul shadow shapes and solid structure.If I were to give critism,I think I would agree on you on the arm part,I think as the drawing went on your value on the left arm specifically became more muddled.(Though i think the head turned out great honestly. This one is more subjective,but I think you should've stopped at the no.5 drawing.Just because the final drawing it became too hard at what the viewer supposed to be focused on.In no5,since the background value is closer to the light family on the body,It's much easier to focus in on the head and middle back torso.In the final drawing,I feel my attention is split between almost eveyr part of the body.(But again,that is subjective) Anyway that's all I got,hopefully it was useful and not just a waste of time (And if it was hopefully it was atleast helpful)