[Garth Herrick]

Hi Garth (Love your name, Jerome),

All good comments above. I too think this portait has a lot of good refreshing things going for it. I actually like the shirt, punchy as it is. It reminds me of a Van Gogh reproduction I grew up with, and also reminds me of some favorite Cezannes; so I'm all for the loose blocky forms if that is the effect you are after.

I too would be careful of the background treatment, as Cindy pointed out. Also be careful of the seeming lack of roundness or form in the darkest passages, like the cap. What I mean is, try to avoid sinking into black holes that are aimless and formless. Even the darkest passages should resonate as a form, turning plane, or color, to tie it all together whith that white shirt. If the reference image lacks this info, then try recontructing some of the data for the black holes from a still life mock-up or someone posing in life, and you will resolve those voids.

Great composition!

Garth