WOW! I am so thrilled for you. This is incredible! You'd never know you stressed about this one. It has such a loose, fresh feel to it. So beautiful!

Amazing!

What a jump from your first effort. You really have a natural feel for pastel. One thing I love about pastel, is that it forces you to use a color you would have never thought of using, because your options are more limited.

Beautifully, freshly executed.

One teensy-tiny thing. I know her mascara is strong, but the inner tear duct is too harsh, soften it. Also When a models eyeliner is too dark I go a shade lighter in the pastel than what you think you need.

Watch out Jimmie, pastels can be more addicting than drugs! Ask Mary. You are always running out to buy the perfect color or two, and whammo, youv'e emptied your wallet!

So inspiring Jimmie to see you diving into different mediums. I think color is the ultimate challenge and you are off to a great start here. I'm anxious to see it once you declare it finished - also am anxious to see the level of your pastel work a year from now . If anything like your mastery of the pencil, they will be breathtaking, I'm sure of it.

I have never tried to paint, but I did do a series of about a dozen landscapes in pastel one semester in college and loved it (even though I was working with just a cheap, old, brittle box of pastels). Actually, a classmate offered to buy them all from me. I couldn't see selling "student work" and ended up throwing them all in the dumpster. Pretty dumb now looking back.

Thanks guys,

Oh my God, trust me, there was much stressing going on. Still is, but the comments made here have made it easier.

Thanks Sharon, your advice means a lot to me. I think I did better with the eyes. I lightened the mascara with dark gray and softened the duct. I also did minor changes to the nose, lips and shape of her left cheek. The closeup I'm including actually shows just how many layers were used until I came up with something I liked! I was nervous about loosing tooth.

I'm seriously considering changing the shirt neckline to show more upper chest, maybe a couple of inches. A Daniel Greene tape I have shows him using a razor to remove pigment. Has anyone tried this?

I hope I get to work consistantly without interuptions, life is funny that way. Thank you.

Jimmie -
What size is this? I'm concerned the nose stud (depending on the size of the portrait) may look like something else - like a mole maybe.

More beautiful. I agree with Mike, you're a natural. I'm impressed with how tight (descriptive) it is - and at the same time so loose and fresh. I'm jealous. My first attempt is getting overly tight and FAR from fresh. I'm so glad you're out there and posting!

David

I don't know anything about pastels but I sure can recognize talent. You are very special. Bravo!

This is so beautiful!!! I am so happy for you Jimmie! :sunnysmil

You are so naturally gifted with pastels!
 

Jimmie, when you ever organize your pastel and graphite portrait academy down the road (hopefully sometime soon), I will be among the first students to enroll! Seriously, I can see you giving a Forum demonstration down the line.

This portrait is so fresh, painterly, and yet so descriptive and polished. Bravo! I hope you undertake some more pastels portraits to share your growth with us.

Garth

Don't know how I missed this, but it's great to see that you got through this one with flying colors (pun sort of intended, if you like puns). Just wonderful!

I especially liked seeing how you took Sharon's advice and touched up the eye - it made quite a difference! This is a bit of Monday morning quarterbacking, but the next time you encounter a model with this kind of heavy makeup, get in close and photograph just for eye detail. And if you forget, put a stand-in under the same lighting. Sure, everyone's eye shape is different, but the overall construction is the same.

Like Marvin, I am barely familiar with pastels - but it is much akin to any opaque medium, I see. That in mind - how much further is it to a full color oil from here? :D