[Chris Saper]

Jean,

I would not recommend ever continuing a portrait done from life without the model, or at least some good photos...and even then only if you've come far enough along in the studio session that you have the colors and values properly stated.

Harley Brown would walk around the studio during the model break and smack his cane on the easel of students who condtinued, "NO working without the model!" Good advice.

Most manufacturers have begun to offer darks as smaller sets in addition to their regular sets. I usually go for the Senneliers by the stick, so I can actually see haow dark the sticks are.