Figure and Portrait Drawing & Painting Lessons

I drew in the form using a bristle filbert brush and Gamblin's asphaltum brown on a toned canvas.  I added lights made of white with a touch of raw sienna.  I then began to add broken color.  I continued to refine until I got it the way I wanted.  I had to be careful not to paint the life out of it.

Work like this is deceptive.  It looks simple, but it takes a very long time to make it look alive and not plastic.

Toward the end, I repainted the entire face.  I was lucky I didn't lose the painting.  I could have ruined it right there.

    Here are three stages of head development