Getting Closer. . .
 

First let me thank you all for your input! It really helps to have all these extra (and fresh!) eyes looking at it! I think I've incorporated most all of your suggestions so far - with the exception of Lisa's comments which I am only just now seeing. I broke one of my cardinal rules and messed with the skin tone on her arms without benefit of daylight... so I expect I'll have to tone that color down a bit tomorrow.

Kim - Thanks, I've adjusted both the shadows and the eyebrow. I think it helped.

Lisa - You're right, I do need to adjust her lower lash line on her left eye, it's a little bowed out, isn't it? And yes, I am continuing to push the arms towards a finish/color like the face. Really need daylight to finish them up (hopefully tomorrow). I need to rework the background a bit to smooth in the patches where I corrected some shapes, I'll look at some of her 'outside' edges at that point to see if they need adjusting (Edge quality is something that I really have to work at!).

Not sure I like the overall background color too well, it's a bit too green for me - but the client didn't want me to change it. I think a more toned down green would be a little softer with her. Should I push her on this?

Thanks again! I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of your input!
:sunnysmil

(Note: I replaced the earlier 'red' photo with one taken in daylight.)

And the close-up.
(She's finally got her necklace on!)

Done?
 

I've adjusted the background, the hand resting on the arm and softened her left lash line and am thinking this is just about done. Will be showing it to the client later today for any feedback/tweaking before varnishing.

Thanks everyone for all of your thoughtful critiquing!

face detail...

Ideas
 

Terri, I have a few thoughts. Firstly, I see two or three times where you are very close. I always think of how hard this medium is to handle as far as open time and blending is concerned. I feel that were you using oils you could get softer edges and you'd surely have lots of time to blend.

One last thought, I think you might take care with your lens choice. I see the near hand looks a bit large and the far hand looks a bit small. This is all about the lens. Try a 50-65 mm next time maybe.

Having said all that I do like the work.

Timothy - Thanks so much for your feedback!

I've left a gap in my schedule between Thanksgiving and Christmas that I'm thinking I could use to try my hand at oils.

As far as the camera goes, I didn't realize it was distorting my references so much! I just checked out the 'Canon Digital Elph' I've been using and the lens looks like it is 5.4-10.8mm. Ouch! :o Looks like I'll need a better camera sometime soon. (When I can afford it -- I'm really just getting started and trying to spread out the up-front expenses to be at least breaking even!)

Thanks again!
Terri