Faces are my "haystacks"

I've decided that faces are my "haystacks" - as you know, Monet painted a series of haystacks to explore the different light at various times of day and seasons.  I'm thinking that's one of the reasons I like to paint faces - to explore the effects of different lighting, texture and emotions on the features.  Its a constant fascination for me.  Even when I go off and paint a series on some other subject, the faces always seem to call me back…

Here's another work in progress - I like to show the process along the way to the "finish."