looks like the beginning to a very great painting... you really should work some more on it.. and get some real dark darks and maybe something shiney.. drops or jewelry or whatever...shiney things sell...
this is really awesome... finish it!!

Nice work.

I love the face, and I adore the green skin tone.I think her left eye is gorgeous, but the right may need a little retouching--it looks a tad sunken.

I don't mind the hand. Unlike Repercutir however, I prefer to keep things simple--so no jewellery is my vote.

There are a couple things that you may consider retouching--her forehead looks a little too jagged on her right side. The hair swirls are a nice and unexpected touch, but I think you can afford to be bolder and make wider curves...particularly curving into the right hand side.

Otherwise, I think it's quite a lovely piece. Very serene.

Sorry not to be brutal, but I'm like most people: when I don't love, I don't comment, not to make the artist sad. As a matter of fact, I LOVE your painting, I think you have great skills and would like to see more of you art. And you seem to be a great artist too.

i really love it... one stunning work... no single crit i love everything about it esp girl's sweet face, her eyes... oh eyelashes... mouth... outstanding

Would you consider buying this?
No, to me it doesn't qualify as something is original..

Does the hand destroy the composition?
Yes and no, but I quite like the hand. because the eye tends to go upward in this painting, the light hues of the hand bring the focus back down to the woman now and then. It's a good element and quite lovely.

Do I need to do something about those random nouveau-ey hair swirls?
I like the visual lines they make though, they don't look like hair nor do they look very organic - they look, pushed.

D'they look really stupid?
That's subjective.

Should I take the border out?
No, I think it's a good frame.

Is everything just too busy?
That's subjective...instead of asking all of these questions,you should do things as you WANT them to be done, as an artist. Let us naturally include these in as comments if they bother us.

It's good stuff, but since your most recent photo reference was paint-over I'm thinking this is too, is it? I really like the colors here and you've blended in natural skin tone pretty well into the greens. I like this. +8

Would you consider buying this?

• After the fixes are made, yes

Does the hand destroy the composition?

• I personally like it a lot I think that without it, the face might look as simply pasted into a picture. With the hand it looks like a cropped picture of a woman.

Do I need to do something about those random nouveau-ey hair swirls? D'they look really stupid?
They don't look stupid, but i think that's the place where improvements should be made - if you look up close you see some odd lines nin the swirls. The hair doesn't look "flowing". The hair strands look ragged etc. I would definitely leave the swirls, but repaint them.

What I propose is to make them greener at the ends, like they would be farther away, so they "give in" into the light or something Try to work on the hair lines, other than that I have no crits whatsoever to the piece.

Should I take the border out? Is everything just too busy?
I think it looks very good

• Okay so aside from the questions I have no real crits. Fiix the strands and the picture will be amazing! Keep it up

WOW! amazing! I would buy it and frame the picture and hang it up in my living room
I think the hand conduct the composition! were the hand not on this place or none there, would miss something.
added you to my favorites
max score

Would you consider buying this?
Maybe, it depands on how I see the original one.

Does the hand destroy the composition?
Nope.

Do I need to do something about those random nouveau-ey hair swirls?
I agree with Blackeri on this one.

D'they look really stupid?
IMHO nope.

Should I take the border out?
No, I think it's a good frame.

Is everything just too busy?
Nope. Instead maybe you could add some detail to it. Like Repercutir have said.

After a long thinking, yes I would buy it and hang it on my wall!

Don't be so insecure girl!! You just go for it.. The curls and stuff could be lots sharper and edgy-er but I guess you're still woking on it. I would definitly consider buying it.. to my personal opinion it lacks a little magic and attitude to comletly knock me of my feet. But there's no doubt that you are getting there.

what a wonderful work on your skintones~! They look very realistic~! but the hair and background doesn't seem complete. +7/8 , hope to see it finished~! ^_^

Okay, for my two cents..... I think you've done an amazing job on the face and hand but its the background that takes a bit away for me. If you could find a way to make those wisps of hair mimick the form of something in the distance I think that could finish it nicely. Not sure if this would work but what about playing around with a diagonal line slightly off center coming down from the top .....like the form of a branch or some kind of pole with those wisps of hair softly draped around it? You could also add the other hand in front of the wisps of hair to push them further into the background. I dont know, these are just some ideas. Theres no way I could toss together such a detailed portrait myself. Hope this helps a little.

The hand is good, the thing that would keep me from buying it is the hardness of the curled lines in the back. You might want to soften them down so there's more balance with the face.
Great work on the colors and the face.

Lovely colors. Only problem I have is that jagged forehead.

I think it's very nice! Maybe just a bit more work on the hair...already mentioned!

woow very beautiful face, i like her face expression, +10/10

wonderful work!!!!

Thank you all SO MUCH!
Wow, I wasn't expecting such a fantastic response! I can't thank you all enough for taking the time to comment, and for such WONDERFUL helpful critiques! *glow* I love this place! Hope my reply isn't too long... :S

Repercutir- I was thinking of adding a tiara or something...
FakeAccount - thanks so much! I am off to fix her sunken eye and forehead right now - I see exactly what you mean. ^_^
KnarfOdimil- I really wasn't complaining when I asked for comments in the description - I was just anxious for honest opinions, which is what I got! But thank you for a very lovely comment.
Starqueen - gah, THANK YOU! Such a helpful comment. I wasn't trying to be controlling by asking those questions, there were just playing on my mind at the time - though in foresight, it was pretty pushy. *blush* sorry bout that! And this is not a paintover, though I paid close attention to the reference.
Blackeri - Thanks for answering all my neurotic questions!!! I LOVE what you suggested with the hair - I'll definitely give that a go, thank youuu! *squee* I'm still trying to get over you saying you would buy it, heh.
lolita - awwww! thanks so much for your support!
Meagan - thats a brilliant idea - I'm not sure I'd be able to pull it off and keep the composition centred on her, but I'll play around with it... you've got a great imagination
Artoonator - as always, thank you for an honest, constructive crit.
kismet, Dax, JESR - thank you for your sweet comments! I will work on the hair and forehead.

Artoonator hit the nail on the head with the hair! Also, the edge between the hair and the forehead could be softer. Variety of edges is so important in leading the eye. Great job!

Very good! I think this looks great and I wouldnt worry too much with how it is!

A question, is this a paintover? I have no problems with paintovers but if it is you should say. If it's not then I do apologise.

However if it is I still think it is great work. And your colour scheme is very effective. And I like where you are going with the hair.

i like everything about it...just make it a bit more sharp and colours more vivid

Andy Jones - I really wish I hadn't done that other paintover, now people think all my stuff is painted-over! And this ISN'T, though I paid close attention to the reference picture. I'd imagine it's kinda hard to do a colour paintover of a black and white image?! I will say if I do another paint over, it's unfair to pretend something is just well-observed when it isn't really.
Thank you I'm glad the colour scheme worked out!

This is a lovely painting, your best so far. You've already gotten great advice so I guess there's just not much for me to add. Just fix the right eye, the forehead and the hair and it will be really amazing. Yes, the hair needs work all over I think. You should sharpen it up near the roots, and give the curls more volume. Oh, and the hand should definitely stay, it adds a lot to the piece.

I think I’ll keep an eye on you from now on. So young and already such a great artist. I really hope you’ll keep going with this!

Always a wonderful color combination, no?

That and this is just plain gorgeous. I don't know if you should take the hand out or not...it does seem a pity if you worked so long on it. Perhaps an option would be to dim down the focus on it...so that it doesn't draw away from the face? Either that or paint the other hand in the reference to balance the one that's there. Just some thoughts.

I still love this, though.

I really like this, you show an understanding of how to create a well composed & well constructed image. It always makes me smile when I see artwork critiqued by people with half of your aptitude.

You have an eye for detail & in time you will perfect your art without the assistance of anyone on GFX.

Well done for one so young!

Very nice composition and colors! elegant style.

i love how this came out, as far as i'm concerned you don't need to change a thing about it. the greens are intoxicating. her expression is awesome, i don't know how you've done those eyes/eyelashes, very very impressive. i really like this painting style of yours, looks like a traditional with somethin' extra.
+10

FANTASTIC!

Awesome work, love it!

9/10