Thank you Allan, I will start the process you suggested tomorrow morning when I go to my studio. Just today I was sharing this with another artist at a meeting we were at and she also suggested sandpaper, but your suggestion gives me more detail on how to proceed.
Michele, I agree with you in that I didn't lay down the "ground rules" from the beginning. This lady is nice and in my trying to please the client things slowly evolved in a direction I didn't intend for them to take. I guess I didn't do anything all that different from previous clients, but this is the first time things got out of control - what a learning experience! I now realize that this could happen with future clients so I am now rethinking the way I work with people - such as laying down ground rules. I need to just let them know from the beginning how I will or will not proceed. I am seriously thinking of creating a hand out to give to a client at the time they sign the contract with me. It can give suggestions on how to dress and it can remind them not to change hairstyles, haircolor etc. I also need to remind people not to ask the whole family for thier opinion!
Ah yes, the joy of painting portraits.
Mary