The texture on the left side of the head has now been added. There may be one or two more brushstrokes before I finish the area, but I will decide that at the end. I have darkened the background to the ear and added some subtle tonal changes in the left eye.
The background will be a 'fuzzy' range of greens to suggest a field or meadow. It will have enough interest in the variety of colours but, like in photography, shortening the focal range helps to concentrate the focus on the subject, and too much background detail will detract from it.

Underpainting on some of the lit side of the head has given it more form, which makes the composition clearer. The inside of the ear will be much darker, as it is in shadow, and this should highlight that side of the face giving it more dimension.
Using tone, colour, intensity, contrast and perspective are elements that I try to combine with the aim of giving my work a dimensional quality. When the work is complete I will see if I have been successful.

I have put a background wash on the left side of the cow which is in sunlight. The yellow under-colour will provide a background for the red/brown of the skin hair. The white 'blaze' down the face will need may subtle tones with some 'bleeding' of the white into the surrounding colour.

This is the darker side of the face, and there is still more texture to add, but it should provide a contrast to the sun-lit side as I progress. There is a similar 'eye patch' of colour around the left eye of the 'beast', but the sun will naturally change the colour. It is this change that I am hoping will give the 'lit' quality to the finished composition that I am trying to achieve.
The ears will be coloured also, but the rest of the face is white.

                         

There is a lot of white on this cow with the traditional dark patches. This is the underpainting on one of the patches. There will need to be much detail overpainted to give the texture of the skin and the light quality that I am trying to achieve. The white areas will need lots of subtle colour changes but yet still look 'white'. This side of the face is mostly in shadow with the light coming from the right of the painting.

My new commission started. When I am painting an animal or a human portrait, I like to start with the eyes. I feel that the character and personality of the subject is revealed through the eyes, in essence they are the 'window to the soul"! Lots of fine detail to go.

This may be difficult to see as it is just an outline guide for a watercolour painting of a head of cattle. I have a tentative commission to paint this, almost iconic and prevalent view, for a client who wants to give a 21st birthday gift to her daughter. They are also interested in a painting of the rainforest which I shall also complete regardless of confirmation to proceed.
I have no doubt that the commission will be required, as it is from an ex-colleague. When doing commissions, I like to complete two to give the client a choice.