How to Approach a Painting Like This

Do you do any value studies or compositional sketches between the idea realization? Like in that simplification stage, do you do anything physical? Or do you teach your students to do anything physical to help them have that plan? Yes. Usually I start out with some a reference photo or sketches, and then I would do a value study. And then I'll show them along the way. So there won't be any surprises. like, okay, one finished painting. What have you not happy with?