Ilaria,
Thank you for pointing things like the neck and the hair, I think I knew I had to work more on it but ( laziness, lack of interrest ?) didn't really want to hear it. Now ,I have no choice...
I realised that, when I began this, it was totally enough if I could obtain a well executed painting, so it was a sort of revelation when you told me to push myself into unknown territories. It sounds evident to me now that I have to make a try. If I don't do it on this piece, when will I do?
Good luck in your unknown territories, I hope you will show the result: I always love your color harmonies.
( the phaidon book is on my birthday list )
Linda,
maybe I moved too quickly from drawing to painting ( from life), my drawing becomes accurate after spending hours and hours on it.
When I painted this, there was a moment where there was nice brush strokes, and nice colors, but not exactly at the right place, or the right value. I worked again hours on it , and lost this freshness, to obtain the exact likeness I wanted ( almost).
I work at the only place at home where I can do this : I have a window on my left ( south-west: I had to work on the mornings, and the cloudy afternoons. I was the only one who was happy when we had a rainy day!) And I have another small window far back on my right.
Thank you for your nice words.
I'm going to write more later, baby finished sleeping too early.