Copy Lavina Countess Spencer by Reynolds
 

I started this painting when I was 18, it was nearly complete then. Last week I took it up again, still needs some glazing in the back ground....and the fur trimed back a tad on her right shoulder.

Original
 

Hi -

This looks good, but we need the original to compare.

I've been searching for an online pic to post of this painting. The reference photo I used was from a book and the picture was darker than this one.

Angela -

I want to compliment you on being able to get such a good start, and at age 18, too! I am not much practiced at giving critiques, but want to start off with some well-deserved compliments: you've done a nice job getting the basic proportions/drawing down. Some nice soft blending in the skin and hair too.

The main thing I see to continue working on is a matter of subtleties. The original has a lot of soft shading. For instance, the mouth is not a single dark line differentiating the top and bottom lip, but a top lip that has differing shades of dark to it that merge with a lighter bottom lip. The hair, too, has this softness. Compare the place in the middle front where the hair and the forehead meet. At the present, your painting makes a much stronger, sharper value contrast than the original.

Since you have the basic drawing down pretty well, this is more a study in subtle value changes. I look forward to seeing it as it progresses.