I was reluctant to put this photo on the post because it is so difficult to see. I have begun to map out the portrait on the canvas but I am anxious to make sure that I have the minimum of lines and pencil marks because I want this painting to have the paint as pure as I can make it.
I need some points, so that I am able to make the face a good likeness, which is not as easy when enlarging on this scale. The canvas is approximately 91cm x 120cm and the sketch is quite small. I have not used a grid reference, but I have made some proportion measurements and placed marks accordingly.
I am inexperienced, not just with oil paints, but also with portraits as a subject, so I proceed with a little trepidation.
 I am considering that working 'wet in wet' will not work with this, as I want very gradual, but smooth tonal changes on the face. This should reflect his 'tender' years.