Hi Jane,
I love this composition - the spiky dark feathers are so commanding, and I always like the way you've handled your paint in a sure and direct method.
Like you, I am very tempted by color reflections in bright sunlight on the unlit side of the face. To me, it's the
best reason to paint under outdoor lighting conditions. I'll bet the color on his face was this intense in reality. If you can keep it in the same value range as the rest of the unlit side of the face, I say, push it!
You're starting to remind me of
Ron Riddick's work. If you've never visited his "Native American" page on his website it would be very interesting to you. I love the way he handles outdoor color in bright sunlight conditions.