[Tom Edgerton]

Ant--

What kind of deadline is it? There are deadlines and then there are DEADLINES.

If he wants it by a certain date, like a birthday or special occasion, and you've committed to it, or for a building dedication or some such public event, then these are DEADLINES. If he just wants it "right away" because he just wants it, that's a deadline.

Make the changes Chris suggested first, and see if you are more satisfied. Then show it to him, and suggest you'd like to have another pass at toning down some of the saturated color, and see what he says. You need not go into an extensive explanation. If it's due by a certain date, make it "unveilable" and sound him out about getting it back and addressing some of these issues after the fact. I did this with a recent library dedication--I got the portrait back after the dedication ceremony and worked on it some more, even though the clients were satisfied already. They liked it even more after the additional work.

But if he insists he loves it, and doesn't want you to change it at all, there may not be anything much you can do to convince him otherwise. If so, spend the check and use what you've learned on this one to make the next one better.

In other words, it's worth feeling him out, but use diplomacy and don't push it too far.

Best--TE

( My favorite quote regarding this is from Douglas Adams, the writer: "I love deadlines. I love the sound they make when they woosh by...")