I tried the simplified grid on my first attempt but it didn't work as well as the square grid in placing all the elemtents accurately so i just did a trace and transfer to block it in for my second attempt. The vine charcoal on my first attempt got too messy to erase cleanly. I also just used a black charcoal pencil on the second for cleaner lines. I'll probably paint that one so I'm not reworking proportions with paint.

Went back and did a few grey scale paintings for practice. Used reference for the first and third. The second was made up

Photo on the left and a scan on the right taken at the same time, I did some more modeling on the face and tried to soften the outer edges of the lips as you suggested, Thanks for pointing it out. Let me know if there are any other ways to improve it.

More blending and refining of the face and additional shirt detail. One more pass to go on the background.

I softened and blended the paint with my finger while it was still workable. It's dry now but I want to refine it more with the paint mixtures that are still not fully dried. Maybe make the background a little more interesting as well.

more developed half tones

first pass of half tones

First egg drawn from imagination on grey paper with white pencil highlight, and second drawn form life on white paper.

average light values added to the head.