Hey, thank you. Do you mean the background of the piece? It's just a rough paper texture/image I found on a random texture site. I like to recreate a sketchbook look. Just the subject, little else.

I guess the soft hazy look was helped by the fact the reference is a grab from 90s quality video, so there's little definition.

I also tuned up the contrast on the reference to bring out the darks more, and lose details to shadow.

I spent a good chunk of time blocking in darks, blending a bit, then going back in with darks, the same way you do with real charcoal. So you get a mix of smokey effect, but with some definition.

Check out Jeff Haines demo videos. He uses this technique, block in, blend it right down, go back in.

I've learned everything I use in digital painting and drawing from traditional medium oil and charcoal tutorials. I don't use all the bells and whistles of the software. Just a couple of brushes, one layer, nice and simple. (I do use the liquify tool to fine tweak the super subtle details I'm the eyes etc)

Check out Lane Brown's demos too.