Swiss Guard Painting - Step 1

Just recently got round to doing a new piece inspired by the loads of images I shot during our Italian holiday. I decided to get away from the oil paints and do a mixed-media piece for a change.

Below is step one, the charcoal pencil drawing on illustration board:

I shot the reference photo for this with a 300mm lens on my old Canon Rebel while waiting for the Pope to say mass on a Wednesday morning in St. Peters Square. The guy looked really cool and I could not wait to paint him.