Skin tones are never just one color—and this piece is a perfect reminder of that. Building realism means working layer by layer, constantly adjusting warmth, saturation, shadows, and highlights until the skin finally starts to feel alive. With this character, the challenge doubles: two completely opposite sides sharing the same face. One side demands subtle, natural transitions; the other requires raw texture, contrast, and controlled chaos—yet both still need to exist believably together. After four hours of painting, this is only halfway done, but the foundation is finally there. Realism takes patience, trust in the process, and a lot of tiny decisions that most people never notice—but that’s where the magic lives.