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I agree with the previous comments and would add that the contrast between hair and background continues across the top of the head and to the upper right without much change. The same good treatment of "edges" that Marvin noted are not evident along this hairline and this tends to flatten the outer hairline. I also would recommend a change to the highlights on the hair. The color on my screen shows them to be too close to the background in color and value and give me the feeling that the background is showing through. I also agree that you did a very good job on this painting.
The "painterly" techniques question could take us a long way from this critiques thread but briefly I will note that much of the successful "painterly" work we admire comes from artists who thoroughly know the craft and most of the critical elements of a good painting and they are no less necessary in this style. It's easy to find careless and sloppy work but the best work takes no less time and effort than conventional realism.
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