Starting with a primitive is so called "box modeling", but start with very low poly. Egg 8 sided cillynder, 8 sided sphere, default cube, etc. Move points around and get general shape, dont worry about smoothnes and details at that stage. Just get proportions and general shape. Gradually add loops with Knife tool only where needed, and again move points to get volume. Look model from all angles all the time, as what look good from one side looks totally odd from another side. After you have low poly base, subdivide it. Most apps have control cage, meaning you only need to tweak that points from low poly and its shaping the hi poly preview. SubD will smooth allot of areas that need to be defined, so add loops where needed to control the smoothnes. This is just rough explanation, but there is allot of tuts. on the net.

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