Contemplation WIP 2

I am really enjoying the creativity in this painting, just being able to develop ideas and not have to follow any reference photo. I do have a couple of photos that I am using but they are really just as lighting and anatomy reminders.

I am really trying to develop strong contrasts in this painting between light and dark, real and unreal. I want the viewer to question what is real and what is conceptual, to delve deep inside and question themselves as much as the painting.

I'm afraid the camera is struggling to capture the yellows in the skin tones which are warmer than they appear in the photo.

I will now begin work on the mask that is being held. I am planning to make this appear like a real face except for the edges which will be mask like.

Ona