An exciting painting overall, Dean, with what it looks to be a lot of essence and personality.. I agree with most of the comments, the painterly treatment being a major plus. Yes there are elements I could be picky about, such as the lack of shadow under the hand not holding the pen/pencil (?), which makes the hand form look a bit 'fuller' than it could be.
Your treatment of edges is quite good, with enough variety to describe the form in the lighting conditions (up to a point). There are always ways of treating the edges (i.e. face against dark hair space next to hair, light around the candle (2 very different 'kind' of edges), that can add subtlely and truth even in a somewhat 'rough', painterly treatment.
I feel it's a beautiful, expressive painting, with terrific impact, I'm sure even more so 'in the flesh'.
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