Study for Grit (6x8") oil on wood

This is a small (6x8") oil on wood panel study I did of my good friend Johnny Hames.  He modeled for me and was a great sport at putting on fisherman's clothes and cooperating with my art directing nonsense...great fun working with my old chum.  It's common practice in my studio to use these small studies as reference for a much larger version.  These paintings can be so time consuming, I find if I can sort out composition, values, drawing and color on the small scale, then I stand a better chance at putting all of my gusto into the larger version.  I'll post photos of the larger 24x30" when it's complete.