/ic/ - Artwork/Critique

I am trying to draw a still life I have set up, but this shit is fucking impossible trying to draw it with the sketchbook in my lap. This may sound like a retarded question, but what's the best setup to start drawing stuff standing up? Is there such thing as an easel that isn't for painting, but for drawing instead?

I can't hold my fucking left hand up, mark how big something is on the pencil, then bring it down to my page and draw that length without hunching over like an asshole and fucking everything up.

Unrelated pic is a bunch of Ice Climbers I drew. Fucking love Ice Climbers.

Here is some Ice Climbers I drew. I feel like I wasn't doing a good job of "feeling the form" and being able to draw them well.

What do I need to do to improve?