Recent portrait....
 

Hi all- I would value your thoughts on this recent oil portrait. The family asked that there be a gamecock in the painting and this was the most subtle way that I could think of to incorporate one-as an end iron. This picture is showing the skin a little hot, and it is very warm, though not quite this orangey in life, but I am not sure how to fix that (in photoshop??) without throwing everything off. I would like to hear what you all would have done differently, so that I can apply it the next time around.
Thanks in advance,
Louise

Louise,

I would love to see a closeup--and a larger view of the entire painting. If you make the width 400 pixels wide, the length should be fine.

Oh, I hope this is an improvement. Also, I didn't mention that this is 30 by 36, oil. Thank you so much Alexandra!!!!

Louise, I think you have a real nice portrait there. I think the family will be quite pleased.

In order to give a good critique one must see each part of the figure closer. If you do have time though and from what I can tell, I think you need to work on the arms some. The arm in light has not accurate form, the relationship between light, half-tone, shadow and reflected light and the anatomical structure mite need some adjusting or should I say anatomical flow of lines. The arm the boy is leaning on seems that it mite be to dark, compared to the other parts in shadow.

I hope this helps and keep up the good work.