Thanks guys. Funny that I've gotten such a good response because I went ahead and made changes to it. I felt I had to change her right eyebrow, it was off, oops. Then I played with some of the contrast, defining some parts, like the hands.

I liked the way they looked on my monitor so much, that I made the outline heavier to match what was on screen. When I repost it, it might look too heavy based on contrast, but in person they are the way they looked on screen in the original post.I also added more to the background so she'd stand out more.

I tweeked it a teeny-weeny bit, because my best critic (my wife) said it needed it. It's always good to have an extra pair of eyes. She's usually very honest. She also thinks I'm the best in the world, but she can always find flaws in my work, so it balances out. ;)

I'll try to post the change later tonight or tomorrow. Thanks again everyone.

ps. Denise, it's nice to hear from you; you should'nt stay away for so long.

Here's the newer version after fixing up the stuff I mentioned in the last post. This is also, as far as my monitor is concerned, a much better pic as far as paper color accuracy and contrast.

I really admire your work Jimmie (in fact, I have you linked on my site with a small group of favorite artists that are recommended viewing). The women you draw all seem to have both a hardness and softness about them at the same time. How/where do you find your models?

Just great stuff. I really feel this one is a personal best for you, Jimmie. You're raising the bar for yourself, which should be the priority for every artist. Those hands - :exclamati

I agree with your corrections (or your wife's suggestions, hehe), and I appreciate your diligence in pushing a work to its fullest potential. And I'm glad to see the re-post. The quality is far better - you're right.

You know, you've amassed a pretty sweet 'folio of these contemporary portraits. This is a style and treatment that is all your own; I have not seen anything out there resembling it. Keep pushing it in the face of gallery directors - and believe me - some lucky SOB (who may actually have some foresight) will snap 'em up and sell them faster than you could imagine. None of us here will be the least bit surprised. And we can say, "we knew him when..."

Thanks guys.

Heidi, I sent you a pm,don't know if you got it. The majority of the models I find are clients at the tattoo shop I work at. It helps because they already know I'm an artist, so they don't think it's too wierd as opposed to asking a stranger off the street.

Rob, very kind words, I greatly appreciate the vote of confidence, thanks.