Official portrait commission
 

Hello,
I'd greatly appreciate your critique/advise on this one. This is a formal portrait commissioned by the university. About 98% completed but there is always room for modifications/improvement although deadline is pretty tight. It is a relatively big size for me, 48x36". The sitter is a former chancellor of the university who now serves as a lieutenant governor of the province.
Cheers,
Iakov

This is a very nice painting. Here are some things that caught my eye:

1) I suggest completing the entire figure to the bottom of the camvas.He seems to be sitting but the incomplete bottom of the picture leaves that in doubt.

2) the hand seems too large. This might be due to camera distortion if you are working from a photo.

3) You might wish to lighten the background just around the highlighted area of the head to indicate the atmospheric affect that occurs when light is reflected back into the air.

Looking forward to the finnished painting.

That is an excellent, dignified portrait of John Crosby. Wonderful to see a Canadian commission here! Congratulations to you and MUN!

Richard - thank you very much for your comments. I did a few more (small) changes but I feel that I have to stop now because I have to give it time to dry before it is framed. The figure was actually completed to the bottom of the canvas, it was just an unfortunate reflection on a photograph. I will try to make a better picture next time when we get a nice bright day here in Newfoundland.
Mary Ann - thanks. It's nice to meet a fellow painter from east coast. I am very happy that you recognized the sitter :) . I can be less nervous now that he might not recognize himself.

The head of all things
 

Hi, it is overall a very nice portrait as it brings out the commandeering feel of his authority. I do agree his hands are rather large - I believe this is a result of photographic distortion due to lens < 50mm.
My gripe is the areas around the head, and shoulders which shows alot of brushstrokes in the background.
Granted this image is true to the actual painting, I feel we should tone down the areas around the head. As the face itself isn't getting the full lighting glory, with heavy shadows and all, there isn't much attention to detail given to the head. The brushstrokes 'take the wind' off his face - and off the entire portrait altogether. Bringing about a more uniformed feel around the top part of the portrait will dramatically bring about the charisma of the sitter.