This is the best light I have found to paint the fuzz on the top of my head. Most of the subject is in shadow only a few well-founded edges are in direct light. Indoors - main light is set up behind the subject, you'll need to use a fill light also, for the shadow side ( refer to my blog Fill Light-51518).
The next time you look at portrait or figure painting see if you can find any emotion in it. Karen has sat for me many times over the years, and its very tiring. This is one of those times and it shows, you can see the boredom in her face, but she never complains. Thank you KAREN.
Few years ago I did a brown bottle series, this one of them. The subject doesn't have to be large, it just has to be well placed and have high contrast in light and dark, or color, or both.
Sometimes you get it right on the first try, but even then it seems there is always something to add or adjust and that is usually what makes or breaks the painting, but if you don't try you will NEVER EVER KNOW.