Thank you so much Valerie! Where did you say you wanted that check sent again? (Kidding)

Right now, Stefanie and my daughter are in New York City on a high school field trip. Stefanie is first chair cello in the orchestra, and my daughter is in the Madrigals choir group. They performed at the Statue of Liberty yesterday!

When they get back later this week, I'll get Stefanie to pose for me so I can do some corrections.

Update
 

I decided to dust this off and bring it to the top again with some corrections. Didnt want you all to think I took your advice lightly, I really appreciate everything you pointed out. Just been working a lot of hours on my "day job" and haven't been able to devote as much time to painting as much as I'd like lately. I hope that doesn't classify me as not being a serious portrait artist.

Linda,

I did the eye transplant, I hope it looks better now. It seemed harder to see the problem than fix it.

I added more red across the face.(This particular comment has made me look at peoples face's more, especially during boring meetings at work.)

Her neck was pretty much hidden by lots of hair and shadows from leaning forward. I tried painting one in, but was unhappy with the results, so I removed it. Didn't want to make up things, as Michele says some of my painting looks made up.

Worked on the clothing more, but still don't have the folds correct. The top she was wearing was covered in dark leopard spots, and I wasn't going to attempt that! So, the folds probably looked more made up, because of missing information. Another lesson learned about better planning.

The fingers were a nighmare for me this time. I make myself do hands a lot, mainly so I'll get better at them. But the lighting made them look washed out and finding the correct forms was not easy. I worked on them some, but I'm afraid it's another case of you can't paint what you can't see, or it looks made up.

Enzie,

I rechecked the chin and redefined a bit, since she was leaning on her hand, it looks a bit uneven.

Thank you all soooo much for your comments! I can't tell you how much I respect everyone's opinion on this site!

New Close Up
 

Posting like this just doesn't do the paintings justice, but what the heck, you get the idea!

Just for fun and comparison
 

I'm going to post some pictures of Stefanie with the painting. Some of the painting has glare on it, but you can see what Stefie looks like in life.

One more
 

Stefanie is really a lovely girl. To the point that I sometimes wished some of you could have painted her!

Here's a cute story:

I went to a local art fair a few weeks ago with my daughter and Stefanie in tow. In one artists booth, I was studying his paintings when I heard a distinct French accent. I turned around to see the rather good looking, long haired, french artist wrapping up a painting for a customer. I was just in time to see his jaw drop open when he got a glimpse of Stefanie. She's very tall and looks much older than she is. He stopped mid-wrap and stepped forward to whisper in her ear. She blushed and the girls left immediately. I only heard part of it, but what he said was "You're very beautiful, but don't tell anyone!" Luckily, her age and lack of experience with lines like that made her run, but you can see what I mean.

Dear Marta,

Stephanie is a beautiful girl and when I saw her I thought gee, that's one good looking girl that has escaped Mike Mc Carty's camera lens. :sunnysmil HE is usually the one with the drop dead gorgeous models.

I like the addition of the shadow under her chin. It now reads correctly and I get a sense of her chin weighing down on her hand. Well done.

Thanks Enzie! Mike doesn't have a corner on all the good looking models, although he paints them as well as he photographs them!

I think it looks better too, although I'm sure I will be nitpicking it forever. I am really tired of it, and am working on a new project now. But if anyone wants to give a final critique that's great. More knowledge to take into the future, you know. I have been known to take things off the wall and do improvements on them, but I think that happens less now as I learn more.

Marta

That was me faking the French accent.

You are tooooo funny Mike!

If I'd known you were coming, I'd have baked a cake.