Evolution Of "The Ripper"

 I haven't posted in a while. Ive been busy working on a big commission that I have to keep secret for now. I  have also been doing lots off smaller satellite works . Here's one of them and a few illustrated  steps showing how I got to the end result . Its called "The Ripper".

Here's the final painting. I decided to use very limited color.

Below are the steps I took to get to this final result.

1.  I work in monochrome. Decide to wipe this attempt off and start over.

2. working with just raw umber and a quick dry gaylkyd white.

I am not satisfied with the hand and coat.

2. I try to interject a knife into the picture, putting it in the man's hand. I like the mystery in the shadow under the hat but not the shape the knife and coat make.

3. Here I add some strange and sinister medical instruments to the coat. I like it better but I lost some mystery in the shadow under the hat. Finally I work into the whole picture with color and you see the result in the first image I posted.