painting is a big investment financially. if you start painting, i would start monocrhome, first just paint mixed with medium on a toned ground, and then, when you have mastered that, black and white. use masonite boards 12 x 16 and underdon't neglect the drawing though. if you dont have time for both, stick with drawing for a while.

i would definitely pick up a book on anatomy (cyclopaedia anatomicae is imo the best, but anatomy for artists is good too) there are some anatomical issues with the bone structure there. but the drawing works anyway, becuase of value and composition. good job and good luck.

this is neither here nor there, but religious pictures tend to give me the creeps. im not sure why i added that part, but now you know something about me most people dont.

merry xmas