[Valerie Gudorf]

Elizabeth,

I just joined this board, but I have been reading it with interest for at least a year. I have seen continual growth in your work and I must say that I like this painting quite a bit. I have no oil painting experience, so I can't critique it in the manner in which it deserves. In light of my "beginner status", I don't have a lot of confidence in my own artistic judgment, which is why I've held off commenting on this painting. But I think it deserves some acknowledgement. The only problem I feel comfortable enough addressing is the absence of definition in the eye that is in shadow. The left eye seems to convey the that there is definitely someone complex and real living inside the sitter, but it seems as if you became bored once you got the the right eye, in that the whole iris is virtually a blur. Does that make any sense? Please forgive me if I'm off base. I look forward to seeing more of your wonderful work.