Leslie, thanks! The clients (little girl's grandparents) are out-of-state 'snow-birds' and currently without internet access, so they haven't seen it yet... (Mike, I think this will ultimately end up in your
new neck of the woods down in the Sarasota area--but it may be a while before it gets there).
Sharon, you're right, she was adorable and sweet, an easy kid to be around and comfortable/natural in front of the camera. Thanks!
Allan, Cindy, Linda & Michele... thanks! It's so reassuring to get such positive feedback. This was smaller and darker overall than I'm used to working, so I was a bit apprehensive about whether it would meet the mark. Am feeling much better about it now!
Michele, I should also add that somewhere you commented to someone (I don't remember what thread) about at some point as a painting nears completion needing to start looking for what worked in the painting rather than just dutifully following the reference (not sure how you worded it, but that was the gist...). This is something I've also taken to heart.