Untitled Work in Progress - Step 3

I started the sketch of this one way back in October and I was doing a decent job sketching and shading.  Then... well, I got lost in the feathers below and I started to worry about the smudge factor when it was time to put on the layer of clear gesso.  Well, it smudged.  Alot.  sigh.  I was able to keep too much of the lead from getting on the wood that I am planning to keep visible and decided to jump right into the painting part.  So far, very limited palette on this one:  titanium-zinc white, ivory black, transparent red earth, and asphaltum.

 Untitled
Photo Reference:  Alan and Elaine Wilson

10" x 8" oil on hardboard © 2012