General to Specific
See these examples treated by the app Brushstroke to take an image and extract GENERAL forms. On your first coat you’ll reduce forms to their essential shapes and color. Detail is for later, and may not even be necessary in come cases.
Original Image
Your photo might seem daunting when looking at details. In this case the background foliage, grass, woodgrain, and animal hair and muscles need to be ignored until a later coat.
General forms
Without seeking fine accuracy, lay out basic forms and approximate color on the first coat. Using Brushstroke app, this image has had the details washed out.
Simpler forms
It’s perfectly fine to pay even less attention to detail on the first coat. You can get more accurate color later, but try to replicate the light and dark contrast so the forms show up.