Quote - I never volunteered for being the model.  I prefered to draw.  But I was always being watched behind my back by the teacher while drawing.  No one could see anyone else's drawings though.  I don't use drawings for reference.  I always have to have a photo reference in my hand while modeling.  I refuse to trace for some reason.

I agree that drawings do not make good references. The reason I recommended life drawing is that it forces one to look very closely and interpret what one sees, which leads to a better understanding of the human form. Sculpting in clay might be even better, and because it's an inherently three-dimensional process, one can do it from photo references (just find a set with the same model in the same pose from various angels).

And yes, tracing is evil. Never, ever trace. There is no orthographic camera in the real world, so your photo references will always be distorted.

PS: No one could see anyone else's drawings? Man, that's serious business. All the life drawing I ever did was in rather relaxed, non-academic settings, so there was no question that we would look at each other's drawings. Usually the models would look at the drawings, too. Personally I  think one should not be allowed to draw or photograph naked people unless one is willing to take on the role of the model at least occasionally. But that's just me.

-- I'm not mad at you, just Westphalian.