Carole

Stunning picture, love the depth and highlights.

Thanks Peter, it was from my own photo in the garden with strong sunlight. It's the first real success at not a lot of portrait attempts. Now working on one of Grand daughter but haven't captured her yet.

That is very definitely a real person - hard to explain this, but one sees portraits and wonders if the painter really looked at human flesh and blood: I have no doubt at all that you did look, and you have an excellent portrait to show for it.

Thanks Robert. I think it more difficult when you know the face really well as I do. I took a tip from a friend and turned the photo upside down which renders familiarity out.

She hates her jowls by the way, but they are her.

I agree with Robert - this is a wonderful portrait. I hope I shall do one half as good one day!

liking this portrait very much indeed... strong and honest :0)

This is a brilliant and honest portrait, at first glance I thought it was an oil painting. Well done.

Thanks to all again. It is against cnventions I think to leave bits of the underpainting and paper showing with a pastel, not sure as I do very few of them, but also the photo has emphasised those areas and it looks much grainier than it is.

This has so much character and charm - a really great portrait.

Excellent portrait - full of depth - well done

Thanks Jane, it's some time ago now when I did this. She isn't happy with it, but I am and think it's a lot better than the oil I did of her.