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Pastel 101
Jimmie, you have a great handle on the tonal sequences of the skin tones. I agree with the other comments on the backgrounds. One caveat, watch the hard line on the jaw. It seperates the head too sharply from the neck. Many artists, even well known professionals, have fallen into this trap.
I, like yourself, was an airbrush illustrator before I went back into fine arts. I have a site here. I personally like the fact that your daughter is not smiling. The emphasis is where it should be, on her beautiful eyes. In my business I refuse to do any smiles, except maybe an occasional hint of one. If you note the great portraits of the past, very few are smiling. It takes great deftness not to make them syrupy, and it can detract from the mystery of a piece. Check out the post I sent to Geri Comicz. It is my basic primer of how to start doing pastel portraits. I just taught myself to do them 3 years ago and I am now exhibiting them in Boston on Newbury Street.
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