Block-in Portrait study with Angela Cunningham

In October of last year I took another workshop with Angela Cunningham at the Townsend Atelier in Chattanooga, blocking-in the portrait from observation in graphite.  Angela's class emphasized understanding and practicing of the visual tools of blocking-in to develop measuring and shape-seeing abilities. Focusing on block-ins is a traditional academic training method that allows one to fine tune foundational skills for high accuracy.  Here is my block-in from the class with a value study I did following the class.  Of course, the portrait is not finished at all.  But this gives an idea of how accurate measuring in the very beginning creates a basis for a good likeness of the model.