One of the pitfalls of working digitally is the ability to endlessly revise and second-guess. This can lead to endless hours of noodling. Beginning on paper can help start you off focused: you commit to decisions — good or bad — and follow through, because it’s more difficult to alter than a purely digital image. Of course, once you get something down in pencil and scan it in, it’s easy to revise, but some of that initial commitment remains I think.
In any case, I’m sometimes surprised at how many alterations I make to sketches!
Nice work, my friend!
Although the flipped version works better for the composition, I actually prefer the feeling of the sketch over the digital revision.
I know what you mean about committing, though. Got the same problem myself. That's why I do more and more of my sketching in ink 😉
Yes! Working in pen and ink really forces you to commit. Which in turn makes you really focus. I keep thinking that brush and India ink would be something great to pick up again.