Pat, is it me --or does she bear a resemblance to your daughter-in-law? (She's coming along nicely.)

I'm laughing. I am using my daughter-in-law as my sit in and I hope not losing the image of Sr too much! My bosses here love it so far, though, and they recognize it as Mother Theresa Fitzmaurice. There is a similarity in their features which is why I used my daughter-in-law!!

Ah-ha!.... Here I was going to suggest that your daughter-in-law might be good to pose for those eyes! Too funny. :cool:

Pat--

There's a lot of good advice here, so I can't add much.

The eyes are so similar that it makes me suspect the problem one is a little too hieroglyphic/symbolic, and not realistically observed. Blow up your reference to the same size as your painted head, first of all. Tape it as close to the portrait as you can, and on the same angle--put tape on the top and the bottom. This will more closely simulate painting sight/size from life. You can't paint what you can't see.

Also, try drawing the eye as a series of short, straight lines, to more accurately observe the linear angles in it, then smooth some of these into curves. The curves are probably a little too "curvy" and stylized, contributing to the symbolic aspect. They told you in first grade that eyes are two curved lines in an almond shape, with a circle in the middle, but in reality, they rarely are. In other words, you may be painting the eye you were taught instead of the eye you see.

Best as always--TE

Pat, my two centss worth. Overall, the highlight on (our) left cheek doesn't look too bright for me due to the light source. That seems to be the logical spot for a high light. One thing, though, I'd like to add is the values of the white of the habit compared to her flesh tones.

The lightest lights can not be brighter than the lightest darks.

Therefore the white habit in its highlights and shadows needs to be lighter than the highlights and shadows of the flesh tones. Check the values and their relationships.

Very nice in its feel. You have captured for me a spirit that dwells in goodness. Please don't get frustrated. Keep going.

Thank you, John for the compliment. It does spur me on! Mother Theresa Fitzmaurice was only 29 years old when she purchased the 55 acres and began to build this beautiful motherhouse in 1905. Pretty incredible for a woman 100 years ago. This part of Cleveland was considered the boonies back then and allot of people thought she was crazy!

As far as the white of the habit. I will keep this in mind. I have not really addressed the painting of the habit yet.

Tom, you are exactly right about the "styalized eyes". I know that is what I am guilty of because I cannot see detail. I have attached a blown up view so you can see how vague the eye is. When I look with a magnifying glass at the photo it even looks like someone at one time drew a line around the iris. (There are a couple very sad looking drawings of this photo in archives!)

Even though I am using a "sit-in" and laying in what I see, when I look at the photo it no longer looked like Sr. so then I reworked the eye and it went back to YUCK. I will keep in mind your thought of straight lines then curved. So basic, yet I forgot this bit about drawing I learned! It is amazing ALL that you have to think about when painting. To concentrate on one aspect I seem to lose something else . . . By the end of the day yesterday, I was happy when I looked at it upside down and it still looked like a human form - I AM still in grade school :)

She REALLy does look a lot like your daughter in law!! :)

I'm calling her done
 

Unless you have some suggestions that would not overwhelm me (ie scare me that I will RUIN this portrait) I am calling her done. I know there is so much that I don't like, but I am happy it holds together. In other words, there are two eyes, a nose, a mouth, an expression I like!!

It's the most I hoped for this being my first truly completed portrait in oils. I present it on April 2nd, so if anyone has desperate measures I should take to improve it, let me have at it!!

Thank you for looking and for all of your advice and support, which I take seriously.

Pat-

I've never presented a portrait without having some of those feelings you describe. Just keep them to yourself. Your client will be plenty happy, as there's plenty here to be happy about. So enjoy it--you've earned it.

As with most things in life that are worthwhile, I've found that what I was the most afraid of ended up being what I've come to look forward to.

Best--TE

Wow, that goes into my quotes collection, Tom! And thank you for the vote of confidance! I will definately let you all know how it goes over after the 2nd. Bishop Pilla will be there....who knows?????? Well, I can dream big, can't I?? :)