Charcoal Studies

Using Procreate and the charcoal brushes I worked on a couple of studies in my slack time. Both are from photo references. I tend to do studies when I don't have a composition in mind. It keeps my hands busy and help me to work on some deficiencies. I expect to start working on hair, different hair types and lighting. Still I do not want to get really "tight" with it. I'm not a photo-realist. I really want to work a lot more loosely than this.

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Maybe I need to jump into more live studies and do more gesture work... a lot more gesture work, to help me loosen up a bit. I have decided to work with pastels (traditionally on the easel) and I want to let the medium to help force me into a more impressionistic feel. So far most of my pastel work appears to be "over worked". I guess it's because I am so impressed with a lot of the portraitist I've been following on Facebook.