Almost finished portrait
 

Hi,
This is 11x14 on cream Mi-Teintes using Nupastel, Rembrandt, and Unison. I know I'm gonna get yelled at for using flash, but the clients insisted on it along with facing foward and smiling. This is the first of three siblings, all with the same reqirements as mentioned above. I tried using natural light in their backyard, but they did not like the effect of strong shadows, but did LOVE the highlights that flash gives. So please spare me the lashings. :sunnysmil If you want to give me lashings for other aspects, please whip away. It's not completely finished because I want to wait until all three kids are at this point and complete them together.

Nicely done, Jimmie, unique, visually enjoyable features well captured.

You're aware of the "flash" monster, so let me just point out one thing that's implicated by that, which is the ear on our right. That very light value, together with the shadow line completely separating the ear from the face, is pulling that ear way forward and presenting a bit of awkwardness in the presentation. Lower the value, soften at least some of the contour edge down around the lobe, and eliminate at least the lower half of that shadow line, and the ear will go back where it belongs, visible but not unduly prominent.

The ear......from beyond
 

Steven,

Thank you for the comments. This very sweet girl happens to have those ears that are almost foward enough to look flat when looking straight at her. I had intended to bring the ear back after covering part of it with hair. I must have been so preoccupied with giving her color that flash takes away, that I forgot or ignored modeling the ears properly. I greatly appreciate you helping with the specific way to handle them. thanks again.