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Monique,
I didn't chime in here sooner, not only because you are getting excellent advice, but also because these small details don't detract very much from the likeness. I know you probably won't agree with me, but I think in the long run these things are less important than the learning experience involved in trying a new medium.
I'm not saying you shouldn't try to get the features accurate--I try myself, so why would you not want to do the same?--I am thinking that your learning curve would be faster if you went to life painting classes every week or so and knocked out a portrait head or a figure study in 3 hours. Then you'd have to let it go. You wouldn't be able to perfect it. You would just move on to the next one. Also, you'd learn by trial and error to mix colors, get the most efficient brush strokes, etc. A perfect result would not be the goal of the 3-hour session.
This is not exactly a critique of this particlar painting. I am looking at this one, and your mother-daughter watercolor, and seeing that you worry a lot about achieving control of the medium. Do not worry! Control will come, but not this way. It will come by breaking out and not thinking of control, only of the joy of painting.
I hope you don't take this wrong. I really like this painting, but I don't want you to fuss with it too long. Move on to the next one. By the way, you could certainly take commissioned work at the same time as you take life-painting classes.
Alex
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