

Above is the photo I chose to work with, myself 1984. Below is my charcoal pencil drawing/study for composition, tones, values and overall shape, it took me 17 hours over 2 days, 10" x 12" same as canvas for this. The photograph is blurry (not as much in my studio), highlights are a little over-saturated and I can compensate for this no worries. I plan to paint this in a loose style, soft edges. Later on I plan to paint a life size, full length portrait. The photo was taken during a very meaningful period that changed my life that I can never forget and don't ever want to. I've read of several artists who encountered something that changed their life forever, this is mine no different than the others. The drawing is not perfect, not without mistakes, better now than later. My next step is to undo the mistakes as I draw it onto canvas. Before I go any further in the process, comments, suggestions, recommendations, feedback are welcome please. Thank you and hope you enjoy!
Comments
Denis
This from someone who cannot draw a bath, or exclude a draft.
I guess if I'm to nit pick and CC, you could try "hanging the nose" a touch more with some dark tone under the ridges and coming back in on it with your tone there. It always helps me get noses to pop out.
Great stuff!
You've pulled out amazing detail from that picture!
Thank you for your patience with these questions which should be probably obvious to everyone else.
@BOB73, Thanks, sure thing.
Your portrait is coming along well, photographing a painting which you know looks better in real life is frustrating.