[Denise Racine]

Please note that I meant "scary" in a positive way!

I forgot to mention that I appreciate the way you treated the shadow on the face. The picture is quite dark in that area and I know, by experience (I just posted a painting with the same problem under the oil critique section) that the dark side of the face can get hard to render!

Usually I will have the model setup in front of me and I determine the background, lighting, pose...etc. So the direction of the eyes is pretty much decided on the spot, depending on the pose.

I work from life in the beginning and finishing stages. In between I rely on pictures & sketches.

Keep up the good work!