I had less than a minute to sketch the person below before she was called to the desk and left her seated position across from me.  The few pencil lines I drew were tentative, as they usually are when I begin a portrait.

Normally I would relegate this page to the scrap heap, but I decided to convert this timid attempt into a bold statement.  In the inked version of the sketch, I omitted the mouth. The chances were too great that a confident, dark line for this feature would ruin the composition.

Cautious to Bold
Original: 5.5″x8.5″ 138# Mix Media Paper