[Linda Brandon]

Dear Brian,

Thanks for posting this interesting and moody portrait. I think you handle paint in an individual style and I really like the "feel" of this head.

You might think you have a problem with the crown of the head because the head is tilted down. Check the position of the ears in relation to the eyebrows. In a level head the tops of the ears are close to the lowest point of the eyebrow. (Very rough generalization.) The tops of these ears are above the eyebrows. This probably also means that you shouldn't see much of the nostrils. Check this out on yourself in the mirror.

In a down-tilted head, you should also get a good view of the inner edge of the pinkish lower lid as it comes up against the moist eyeball. I see this in the left eye but not the right one. Even in the shadow side, that lid edge should be there.

The two sides of the subject's face are quite different from each other. I wouldn't say it's beyond belief that your friend really looks like this, but you might want to recheck some measurements. For example, the pupils should be the same size in each eye.

This painting has the feel of a life portrait, but now that I re-read your post, you didn't specify whether this is from life or from a photo.

You may have the same problem that I have when I paint my friends from life: we talk a lot and the features just don't stay put. I try to get my friends to stay quiet when I paint them but most find this impossible.

Please feel free to jump in and comment on other posts.

Best regards,
Linda