Help with background and edges
 

This is a portrait I have been working on the last few days, and it has come through surprisingly quickly, since I only started last Thursday.
I am not sure about the background. Should I put in more brushwork , should I put more colour, darken or brighten one side?
Also I am not sure which edges I should sharpen up, if any.

I wanted to finish it before the end of next week, but having it had it around for such a short time does not help me with decisions!

I rely on you fine lot!
Ilaria

Hands
 

Just realized how hands are monstrously big, even though the left is not done yet, I rush upstairs to try and correct!

I like this elegant painting a lot, Ilaria. And I happen to like big, working hands on women (look at how Nelson Shanks paints many women's hands!) but I'm told this is a minority view.

It's the composition of this that troubles me. I think there's too much space between the dark value of her hair and the dark lines of the chair. Have you thought about placing some design in the background, possibly wainscotting, stripes or a patterned wallpaper, ending around the shoulders? This would leave the pale mottled background around her hair.

I'd try some thumbnail sketches, of course, before you try it out on the canvas.

I look forward to seeing the finished painting.

Thank you
 

Linda, thank you.
I will consider this option. You made me realize that hurry is sometimes an enemy for painting, and I must give myself time to rethink properly about what I am doing. Definetely I must keep this painting with me until after the holiday and plan carefullly its development.
Did you get my message about London?
I hope you will have a nice time over here
Ilaria