Enzie,
Thank you so much for your comments and pointing out where I can make improvements. There is a problem with her left shoulder neck area, I think I may have bulked her up a bit too much, but I'm not really sure how to correct it now. Is that the area you were referring to?
Peter,
I REALLY appreciate your taking the time to do those corrections, which look great BTW, you are right on about everything! I will certainly work on those ever important eyes, and the other details you picked up on! And I will try to blow up the other picture in Photoshop; with some luck the computer won't crash this time.
John,
I agree about softening up those areas, especially the brim of the hat, which I'm so happy you mentioned, because it may have gone unoticed. Actually I wish I would have painted this more alla prima so I could have been more succesful with lost and found edges. At this point I think it is almost reading as a cut out so I will definitley spend some time trying to correct that! About the hand on her hat, it does have a bit more room on the actual canvas, I slipped it in a frame just to take a look and it shows some sky above the hand. Unfortunately not enough for my liking, and this is on a prestretched canvas so there's no room to restretch. But I sure wish I would have given her more breathing room. Especially in the frame, she looks a bit cramped, Darn it! At least I won't make that mistake again.
The photo reference is not the best for sure! But I think it captures a lovely moment her boyfriend and she shared on a trip to Hawaii. And since it will be for his birthday present, I agreed it would be a nice moment to capture in paints. She is a good friend and very sweet with a good sense of humor, and she may have just been doing that, posing, in good fun!
Thanks again everyone for taking the time! I'll be doing some corrections and then post the new improved version later this week!
Best Wishes!