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Hi again, Janet,
I do like this background a lot more. It's less fussy and complicated, and the rectangles of the windows go nicely with the steps.
Here are some new things to look at:
1) In the reference photo there is a distinct difference between light and shadow on the house. I don't get the same feeling in your painting. The planes of the stone in light look too cool. As a result, there is too much blue, and a slight feeling of monotony in the color. A little more warmth in the light might help the blue work more to your advantage.
2) The perspective in the window muntins is off. I think you already mentioned seeing a problem in one of the windows. In your reference photo, one muntin is exactly at eye level and goes straight across. The top step slants very slightly up from left to right because it is very slightly below eye level. If you follow that line across the canvas, it should correspond to any muntins that happen to be at that level. Below that, the angle of the muntins would go up at even more of an angle toward the right; yours slant down.
3) I would suggest making the value of the window frames inside the glass more like the value in the reference photo. The windows in your painting have a curiously blank look because you have not established this value change. BTW, I like the way you have not articulated every line in the blinds!
4) Since we don't have a reference photo of your husband's face, I'm still left wondering whether the inner corners (tear ducts) of his eyes line up in real life. Most people's do, even when the rest of their face is very asymmetrical. Maybe you've already checked that with the acetate, and if so I won't say another word!
All in all, it's coming along beautifully.
Alex
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