Hello Peggy.
You are quite correct about the shadows. The photograph is black and white and there is very little detail below the hemline of the dress due to the limitations of the camera being able to cope with light and shadow.
I did mostly guess at what might be happening below the hemline, she is actually standing on a plain wooden floor which showed no variation in tone or shading at all! I introduced the carpet out of my imagination because I thought it needed something more. I am still finding it hard to work without any reference to guide me. Anyway I guessed at where the shadows may have been, and I guessed wrongly!
Now that I've read what you have said, it makes sense and I will go back to the painting and make some amendments to it.
Thank you for your very useful advice Peggy.
Barbara
