[mindbender]

Horned Owl
Ballpoint study after photo by Limbrumer:

[Aryeh]

Dont give up on painting hair. The only thing holding you back is that you arnt spending enough time. Dont be impatient.

quality > quantity

Revisit the hair and other trouble spots in old paintings instead of starting new ones. The trouble with starting new ones is that it doesn't re-enforce the behavior of "solving" your technical problems. Instead, you end up moving on to a new painting and stopping where it gets "hard".

My challenge to you is to keep working on a painting for atleast 6hrs, or until you have solved all your "problem areas".

If you do that you work will dramatically increase in quality. And you will be more consistent.

[mindbender]

Yes, I try hard to stick to a limited number of studies - and will also try to really finish the five portraits I'm painting after photo ref.

Here's todays update of my portrait study after Zorn. Hav a great weekend, guys.

[LordActeaon]

Mindbender, just be sure to take time in which studies you're going after - go for things that are achievable at your skill level now and you'll automatically, after time, find yourself advancing.

[mindbender]

Yes, I agree with you. That is why I focus a lot on value studies after masters. Here's the start of my last one (after Winterhalter):

[derA]

A concept I'm currently working on, still needs more refining on the armor