Realism
I kept the wolf as the strongest form in this shoulder piece, then used the woodland, moonlit water and small rowing boat to create depth underneath it. The blue eyes are the only colour accent. That small contrast is enough to pull attention to the face without turning the whole scene into a colour tattoo.
This one took two sessions, about eight hours in all. Several elements share a limited shoulder area here, so they could not all carry the same amount of detail. I used larger value changes in the wolf and quieter shapes in the landscape so the scene still reads when viewed from a normal distance. The shoulder curves, so the picture changes with every angle. I planned the face to stay clear from the front. The scenery moves round the arm behind it. For a similar piece, tell me which element should lead and send front and side photos of your shoulder in good natural light. Then I can plan what sits behind it and the size it needs.
