BJ, from 30 years ago

[Lon Haverly]

The colors are a little ruddy. Perhaps you are using the burnt sienna and umbers too much. Other choices might give you a warmer and richer skin tone.

[Jen Reinstadler]

I must confess. I was trying out some of the colors from Marvin M's palette for the first time. But, alas, I was trying to make substitutions in a recipe that I have never tried. My husband has very particular palette when it comes to food, and has warned me against this tendency many times.

However, I use water-soluble oils, and can't get the Naples yellow he recommends, so I fell back on cad yellow. And I couldn't let go of a couple of my favorites: sap green (instead of viridian), cadmium orange. I admit I struggled with the new reds (Indian and Venetian), but upon further research, it is probably due to the fact that I always use titanium white because lead white scares me.

I'm sure I had other anomolies in there, too. I have been using pretty much the same palette for years, so all this variation leaves me unsure of the final mix. So, what do you know, I guess you shouldn't marinate chicken in red wine after all.

[Sharon Knettell]

Jen,

I know you have had a problem with this from the get go. Trying to meld a 20 something photo with a 50 something body is not working.

In the future you HAVE to hold the reins a little tighter unless you have starving children. You either do a botox picture of her in the present or a painted copy of a favorite photo. This you have to make clear to the client.
A portrait business is often built on word of mouth. When I have gotten in a situation like this in the far distant past, I have signed it with an undecipherable cartouche. Remember your paintings are your calling cards.

If he is happy with it let it go and learn from it. Remember you are more than a hired brush to paint other peoples visions. If you keep listening to the audience you will never find you own authentic voice, melancholic or cheery.

[Jen Reinstadler]

O.K., just tell me where to get a hold of some Skele-Gro, and I'll work on developing more backbone. To be honest I've done several works like these, mostly drawings. They usually don't make it into the portfolio. But as for the "hired brush" comment...well, I was trained as an illustrator. But I gratefully take advice from a reformed commercial hack! Thanks!