My drawing of actor Tom Wlaschiha (Game of Thrones) using cross-hatching technique, completed in 90 minutes. This was my first time using this method and as you can see, some of the middle reference lines are still there (bonus eraser dust on the side).
There's a certain aesthetic value to cross-hatching that I like. The point of realism is to make the drawing look realistic as possible, which is a feat on its own. But cross-hatching gives the drawing a somewhat different feel. Something like 'raw' or 'crude' usually comes into my mind. Denser cross-hatching to capture darker areas, but just few slashes for the less shaded parts. The areas where the light shines I could ignore completely. Straight slashes on the hair to give some volume and dimension, changing the angles gradually for the hair flow. I enjoyed the process of this sketch, it does have some form of freedom to it. Unlike realism, I didn't have to worry about the outlines affecting the dimensions of the portrait, and aside from the proportions, it really didn't require that much refining in the end.