Thank you to all who have responded. I have gone back to the drawing board to see what I can do with this photo. I do have several photos of the chair in some different lighting so I will use other reference photos than just the one. I think that I can make this into a nice portrait (fingers crossed). It takes me forever to finish a portrait (busy with work, children etc.) but I'll post it once finished.

Eric, I liked the way you turned her facing the other way...I never would have thought of that! Just wish I knew how to use my Photo Shop so I could manipulate my reference photos.

Eric, you're a dab hand - I'm sure you know that you can't just flop someone's photo and have a likeness. The only person to whom it will look correct is the sitter!

But - compositionally, flopping a photo sometimes works wonders. :thumbsup:

Anyway - I'm joining the tinkering bandwagon...

Now a little more to the right.

Ha! ... I'm not such a careful painter.
None would know were it left untold ;) .

Hello Virginia,
I too have trouble using Photo Shop. Every time I use it I do learn something new. Just a thought. Eric took the photo and did 180 degree turn and gave you a different perspective of the reference photo. If you can't do what Eric did, try looking at the photo in a mirror. It works with portraits that seem to be off and you just can't get it right. It gives you a different look at the composition. The mirror will work wonders.


You have some great advice and input. Good luck. :thumbsup:

Here is another question for all you talented artist! What would you do with the background? Would you leave the tree to the left of her since it frames her face? What about the column with the ball on top? Too distracting?