Agnetha by Peter Smith

Keep it up Peter, your portraits are definitely getting better. Instead of using white to lighten the face, have you thought of mixing lighter flesh tones? Hope you don’t mind me saying….

I think you definitely ARE getting better - well done; this works rather well, though (I know: ALWAYS the critic!) the eyes are a bit different in size, the one on the right side (her right side) of the head being better observed. Picking up on Marjorie's comment below, I wonder what you are using for your flesh tones - it would have been a bit difficult to lighten the tones in this one, because of the very fair hair, but a bit of mixing it up helps - or can: none of this is easy, is it? If I were you, I think I'd concentrate on the drawing - shapes and proportions - for now. And I know I've said this before, but working from a live model would be a very good practice to get into - we can't all find gorgeous subjects like this lady, of course; but not all of our portraits need to be glamorous, and the ones that aren't can help a lot with the ones that we seek to paint; anyway - as I said, there are signs of real development here and I wish you luck in taking it further.

Thanks folks. I use various paints depending on the flesh tone of the person but in this case her skin was very pale but I have added a little red in her cheeks. A live model is a possibility Robert, I have just joined a new art group that may do that. I do paint older people and men as well but have to admit a pretty girl always has the most appeal. Finally yes, the eyes do look different sizes but they do on the photo too so I'm not sure what to do. I'll give it a day or two and if I want to change it I can easily enough. Many thanks for your input, I really appreciate it.

I'm doing a few things differently; I'm using a soft brush for hair instead of a hogshair, I'm adding a touch of red to my flesh tones and I'm using a little rose red instead of vermillion for the lips. It's amazing how little things make such a difference and it drives me mad that I've only just thought of doing it!

Of course having gone back and looked at the photo again the eyes are not different sizes! A job for tomorrow.

Yes, I agree your portraiture is getting better and this is a nice example. Robert is right about keeping drawing and getting proportions and shapes right. There's lots of good books that can help with this, I certainly benefitted from this approach

Another nice portrait Peter, you are getting better with every painting, something we all try to do!

I've done some more work on the picture and posted it in the forum.