3 Initial pencil & charcoal sketch on tinted board. On the left is an 8 x 10 color test I did before starting.
4 Sometimes I start with the background, sometimes I start with the focus point of the painting. I knew the face would make or break this image. I decided to tackle the hard part first.
5
6 Face & hand. Once I get those right, the rest of the painting normally snaps into place.
