Among other ongoing projects, some not as diverse creatively, I usually create a project so that I can execute or explore variations in approach to illustration. It’s about exploring style and technic and building the image within a specific application. For this image, I used Corel Painter X3, which is a great package for working with a more traditional blending approach. I tend to work with it using the conté tool which is real world drawing medium (not digital) that functions like a hard pastel. I used real conté way back before digital in life drawing, university days. Although, with digital, it’s far easier to adjust after the fact, and much easier to add detail.