Kimberly

[Sharon Knettell]

Gorgeous picture Mike!

Have you ever tried lowering the light? I have done that and it eliminates that dreadful snout shadow. It works well on only relatively young subjects. If you check out Sargent and Zorn's work. you will notice they used it extensively. It forms a light shadow on the top of the cheek and makes mouths look more voluptuos. It has to be done subtly or you get the ghoul effect.

[Mike Dodson]

Sharon,

I think I tried everything with the exception of lowering the light. I plan on taking the weekend and playing around with different lighting in my studio to see what effects I can come up with. I'll try lowering the light also.

I saw in a recent issue of the Artist's Magazine where Nelson Shanks had painted a young girl with similiar lighting to what I have here, particularly the cast shadow behind her nose. It was almost identical.
Studying his handling of the shadow pattern is really helping me with this one as are all of the suggestions I have received here so far.