@Blitz55 wow! Sounds like I've been missing out! I've always wanted to start figure drawing, but haven't made it a priority, but this really motivated me to try to find somewhere to do it soon! I definitely think that learning to really observe something and draw it in using what you see instead of what you picture in your head is an incredible skill to develop. I've always noticed that I have a much easier time drawing from photos, and I think that is because the image is already 'flattened' and framed for me and I don't have to really understand how it sits in space--which is not necessarily a good thing.
Anyways, thank you for the motivation I will try to find a figure drawing class soon!