My wife

[Michele Rushworth]

I agree with Cindy's thoughts and suggestions. The second one has a nice and relaxed pose. Just watch out that her elbow doesn't stop too close to the edge of the painting.

[Linda Brandon]

Hi David,

Your wife reminds me so much of Alphonse Mucha's Art Nouveau models that I just had to post one of his works.

I would encourage you to really paint something wonderful with her - lots of fabric and an imaginative setting and pose. (Personally, I'm dying to put somebody in a 'Mucha' pose.) Take lots of time setting it up and working out photography problems. It will make you more experienced (and opinionated) when you have clients lining up at your door. You'll have more fun with the painting if you take it a little bit out of the ordinary, and you certainly have the technical skill to carry off anything you can dream up.

I'll admit the crown is a little much. I guess that's all part of being Mucha.

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

David, she is there, she is still willing to cooperate (unlike my kids and husband...), just do two paintings!
Start both paintings at the same time and see that each of them will help you with the other one! If you don't believe in one of them just throw it away and keep working on one only. You have nothing to loose.
Personally I also think that in the first photo you can loose the background, just put some neutral colour in the same tone as the midtone of the face!
Ilaria