/ic/ - Artwork/Critique

What's the best way to do a "study" of something to actually improve?

I've been reading head and hands and I want to learn the planes of the face so i've been looking a lot at the asaro head

When I draw it, should I construct it or just draw it as I see it? I constructed pic related but I noticed I started leaning on the reference more than the construction itself, any tips?

Also I don't know how to render or anything I just wanted to see what it would look like with some dark areas and a pen outline so please excuse that