I've been trying some life drawing lately, but I have no idea what I'm doing or where to start. I have many pictures to refer to, but it's a very daunting task. I also don't know anything about shading or tools, which means that I can't portray lighting, texture, or anything else I may not know about (most of the pictures are black-and-white, so this is a disadvantage). If anyone out there knows how to draw figures (people and animals), backgrounds, and or objects, please tell how a beginner such as myself may be able to gain and improve life drawing skills. It would be preferable if the information were as thorough (step-by-step) and specific as possible, but anything would help.