Annie
 

Mike and Michele, thanks so much for the comments, I've taken all to heart.

First, regarding the composition. My original composition and value study was with a very deep plum background. This placed all the emphasis on her face and right hand (where I wanted it). My client felt that it might be too dark for her pastel living room, so I agreed to change the background (not thinking in advance of how much I was changing the composition when I changed the values). So, I crossed my fingers when posting and hoped it would fly as is (haha). You guys are too good (Mike). I like your crop too Mike, but need to keep the same size. I was considering changing her dress to a lighter color to hopefully bring the emphasis back to her face. This would decrease the heavy right side of the painting and draw more interest to her face because of her dark hair??

Michele, I'll get back into her hair and fuzz some more edges, and I've been working on the dress to make it more natural.

Are there any other suggestions on improving the composition? I'll be doing more for this client and I want this to be the best I can do ( at this point)!

Jean

Annie
 

Hi, I think I'm going to quit at this point. I have an idea that may work well in this composition. My client is having another portrait done of her other daughter. Both portraits will hang on the same wall over a baby grand piano. I'm goig to add her rose trellis on the left side of Annie's portrait and continue it into the other portrait. Her other daughter will be facing the opposite direction with the trellis on her right. Does this make any sense? Both portraits will then be "connected". Sort of a tryptic, with only two. What is that called, a byptic?

Anyway, here's Annie.

Jean

Oops, can't find my pictures. I'll be back.

Here they are!

Hi res close up
 

If you look closely, you will see a tiny hair on her nose. I didn't notice it until I saw the picture on my monitor. That's what I get for painting with a cat on my shoulder!

Jean

Forgot the picture
 

My day has been a little crazy, maybe time to give up.

Jean

Two paintings that are meant to be attached are called a "diptych" (pronounced dip-tick). Separate paintings that are meant to be hung together are called a "pendant".

Cat hair on the painting puts you in good company. There are cat hairs in Rembrandt's paintings, too -- and mine!

Pendant
 

Thanks Michele, although I kind of liked the term biptych.;)

Glad to hear I'm in good company with the hair, I'll make it my signature.

Jean

Reborn again
 

Well, I just didn't like the dark right side even with the plan of creating a "pendant". So Annie's gone pastel. I'm not done yet, will keep posting as she goes through this most difficult labor. I removed the rose at her neck, and will add a necklace that she will be bringing over.

Jean

Close to the finish
 

I've begun to add the roses, and am trying to make her right arm recede and left come forward more. Annie has misplaced the necklace so we're going to have to find an alternative.

Jean

Only tweaking left
 

Here left arm has given me many challenges. I've lightened the painting considerably, and added shadows to the roses.

Jean