Almost Finished and Just Starting

I'm almost finished with my "Modern Mona" drawing.  Here is a progress image:

I've decided to set this one aside for just a bit until I can figure out what to do next because it just isn't RIGHT yet and I can't quite put my finger on what I need to do next.  Soooo.... in the meantime, onward with a new project!

I have three works-in-progress to share with this one.  First is the basic outline.  I did this dark so it would photograph and you could see it.  But then I practically erased all of the lines until they were almost "ghostly"...

The second WIP I put in the first layer on the mother's arms with an HB pencil and blended with a chamois. Chamois are great for blending smooth skin tones!

Now I'm getting to the good stuff- the part where you discover your range of tones and things start to "pop"!    Layering the HB now to add definition and using a little bit of 4B to start to define the shadows.  And below, on the left where the baby's thumb rests on her mommy's finger, is a teeny tiny bit of 9xxb.  Just that one little dark spot and the lightest spot (which will be the light reflection on the mom's thumbnail on the left) will help me to determine the rest of the tones in the drawing.

In the past I've always worked a drawing from left to right since I'm right handed and didn't want to smudge my work.  I don't know if I've become brave or foolish for doing it this way instead, but we'll find out.  This might be a good time to get out my brand-spanking new drawing bridge to use and review for you!

Until next time, may the wind be at your back and a scenic view be in front of you!!