Artists: What would be the steps of completing a piece like this?

It’s hard for me to say how, since I particularly enjoy drawing portraits and so I have a relatively good understanding of facial anatomy and where light and shadow tend to naturally fall on the face, and I don’t really do a ton of painting. Other than that, the facial details are pretty clear. The eyes, ears, nostrils and lips are more defined, like they’ve been painted out as you would with a realistic portrait painting. Then the less focused highlights and shadows and colors of the skin and face are sort of splopped (I doubt that’s a real word) on in a way that complements the natural lighting and shadows but isn’t as clearly defined as the distinct features.
I do think it’s really interesting, though, and now I want to try.

@DigitalBlue “Slopped” not a real word? We’re discussing from the right-side of our brain, of course it’s a real word! :D

I typed “splopped,” which seemed like a messier version of slopped. But, I’m glad you got what I meant. :)

I have minimal skills with drawing and painting but I find this sort of thing fascinating.
I’m often asking “How did the artist end up with that?”

This one does look like a basic form, plus defining the edges, then putting detail where it counts. The whole while it seems the artist has kept with a mostly consistent big-granularity like a sponge painting—this even looks like it could be finger/thumb painting.

Just start the session out by drinking a fifth of vodka, and then try to paint the best portrait of your life…...in the morning, you will find that the painting will look like the one mentioned…...plus you will have to clean paint off yourself, your home and any friends who were present during this artistic creation. ;)

@Only138 You know how to have fun !