whew, that is one good lookin chicken! The prelim. step is pretty difficult for any subject most especially when you are new, but take it from someone who has been painting birds for less than a year, and got a blue and 3rd place ribbon at the Ga National fair this year for painting exactly that, it just takes practice, I recommend attempting to sketch them before you attempt to paint. I always do composites of all my work before working on the actual canvas piece. Cant wait for lesson two! I am always up for a new technique!