Correcting the eyes
 

Hi all. Yes, I will be changing her eyes, this was the only picture that I took (at a birthday party) that showed her eyes slightly crossed. I'll make sure they aren't in the portrait. I plan to add another layer of paint to her face and scrape again to lighten those "rosy" cheeks! Michelle, you're right about those dark shadows, I'll lighten them up.

Leslie, hello! I haven't added the little wisps of hair on her forehead yet, and won't till I'm close to completion. Also the next layer of paint, should "round" out her face and soften her chin line.

To both, I like this loose style also, I'll do it again. I'm really concentrating on staying loose, without my normal detail. This is more fun! Thank you for the comments and insight, it's appreciated.

Jean

update
 

Hello, I've done some work on her face, arm, and dress. Mostly her face. I'll be lightening her cheeks even more and toned down her "rosy" glow.

Jean

Detail face
 

There is a little glare, as the paint is still wet.

Jean, she's looking a little younger now but her right cheek (on our left) isn't as full below the level of the mouth as you have it, and her jawline, especially on her left (our right) is too low and full for a child her age. Also her right eyebrow (on our left) is too high relative to the position of the eye, and bringing it down would give her a more young-child-like forehead. Her left eyebrow is also a bit high but not as much. I think if you made those changes she'd look more her age. She's got a darling face and I like the painterly way you're approaching her.

Giselle
 

Hi Leslie, she is a sweetheart. I took many pctures of her at the party, and will be using a few for figurative studies. This was the best for a formal portrait (even with the slightly crossed eyes). She always had a look of being totally delighted!

Thank you for your observations, I'll be painting most of the day. Making repairs and keeping the loose look is very difficult for me. But I'm going to work in this style for a while now, try to "imprint" it on my soul.

Jean

Refining her face
 

I've lightened her face and neck even more. Started adding wispy hairs, worked on eyes. I need to soften the bridge of her nose and finish her left eyebrow (I did lower both). I think I'm done with any major changes now and will go back to arms, hands, and background. Thank you all for your explicit descriptions of this process. And especially to Bill Whitaker for his excellent demos on his site!

Jean

ps. It's still dark and rainy here, the pic may be a little dark, even though I lightened it in my photo program.

Nice job, Jean! She looks much more the age of your model, now. Can't wait to see the final painting.

Thank you!
 

It did post darker than it is. Next time I'll wait for better weather to photograph it. Getting tired of dark skies.

Jean

Working all day
 

Hi!

Well I've worked on the hands, arms, and some on flowers. I haven't fixed her nose yet, but I will. I've done more work on the lilacs and foliage, still trying to stay loose. I'm begining the shadows on the dress now, and will either make it or break it. There is some glare on the darker areas, so please disregard.

Jean

Done?
 

Well I think I'm done, afraid to put any more paint on the canvas cause I'll get too diddly. Any nitpicky suggestions? We finally have better weather here, so colors are fairly accurate.

Jean