[Chris Saper]

Dear Cynthia,

It's so good to have you participate in the Forum!

As you obviously are aware of the limitations inherent in your source photo, there's only a few additional comments I might make about its use. It's very characteristic of flash photos to cast strong light on planes that in any normal lighting situation would be in shadow. In your image, this is most evident in the light on her little double chin, and on the throat just under the chin. These light values, although true to the photograph,have the same effect as overstated reflected light - the planes no longer remain in the shadow. I think also that your portrait would benefit from some dark notes placed in the shadows of her hair, and where the skin moves into shadow against the clothing.

There are a few tangents that, while part of the photo, don't have to be part of the painting. There's a tangent where the hair joins with the jumper's bar at the shoulder on our left; where the cheek and white collar meet on our left (this area would be better explained by having overlapping objects); and perhaps not quite a tangent, the stiff fabric in the jumper what I'd expect to see as the white sleeve on our right. I would probably have painted in the sleeve, and let the jumper be closer fitting.

With regard to your drawing, you have done a fine job. An area that you might recheck is the drawing at the tip of the nose - it is drawn as it would appear if she were looking directly at you, rather that with her face slightly turned away. I find your color harmony to be extremely pleasing.

Regarding edges, I think they work well on the silhouette of the hair, as you have kept them soft, and nicely integrated with the background. However, the silhouette's edges below the neck, and at the bottom of the sleeve, and edge of the arm on our left are the sharpest edges in your painting, and compete with the face for attention. The placement of the arm on our left, combined with the sharp edges and contrast, beg to move the eye out of the painting compositionally. When you take your own photos, if you take a number of shots from the same position, you will give yourself options to combine parts of different photos to improve the composition.

If clients will be choosing their own phots, you can give them instructions about flash, viewpoint, clothing etc. I really like seeing little kids in denim overalls, but the stiffness of the fabric can present painting problems, since it doesn't move with the underlying form. If you are taking your own photos you can attend to this during the photo shoot.

Look forward to seeing more of your work!