The growth of a beard (iris)

I think I'm done with my bearded beauty.  Just needs to dry, get stretched & a coat of varnish.  Since it's oil, that'll be a few months, but plenty to do in the mean time.  FALL is coming!

Here is the development of the piece since I pulled it from the closet after a few years of waiting for me to finish grad school.  Good patient iris! 
      

  Building the beard

 And the final touches deepening some shadows & adding a few highlights I missed.

Compare to the original inspiration picture: