I forgot, the stock came from here... [link] (how the heck do you post links here?...*sigh* more research...I'll keep working on it!!)

Thank you!!

Nice work.
I think the eyes came out especially well. I followed your link and the portrait is a very accurate depiction of the stock artist. I really can't think of any critique for you. You seem to have everything looking right.
Hair is one thing I have trouble with in digital painting, but you seem to have done a respectable job with it. I know that you said your fairly new at digital painting, but I wouldn't have been able to tell without you saying so.
Again, this a nice painting.

--
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they will never cease to be amused.
-unknown-

Pepper, Thanks so much, your crits mean a lot. I've uploaded a more advanced version tonight. I worked on the eyes and the hair...which is such a time consuming thing...I'm hoping to find some shortcuts before I do another..this was done in sections, I'd do a bunch and then duplicate it and rotate it, making it somewhat easier...(I don't know if that will help you or not, but it's working)

I also am still trying to sharpen it up, but that's the hardest thing for me, those finishing touches.

again, thanks so much...you kept me going with it...

You are most welcome.
In full view especially, the eyes look great. They look spherical and moist, which is the way eyes should look. I think they are my favorite part of this pic.
Do you use 'hair' brushes with the hair or paint strokes. I started painting with just the brush or airbrush tool, then went to using special 'hair' brushes. Now, I've gone back to just using regular brushes or the airbrush. I've read quite a few tutorials on painting hair and some say to use the 'hair' brushes, others say not to. (DA does have some good tutorials.)
Anyway, you really are doing great. I'm anxious to see your next piece.

--
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they will never cease to be amused.
-unknown-

Hi Pepper...I'm doing everything the hard way until I learn what's going on. This is what I'm doing for the time being...

First I make a layer of hair...I'm using hard brushes, and soft, all very small...then I duplicate, play with the hue a bit for some depth, then putting them together slightly off kilter...then I do it again.

It doesn't really lend itself to much of a style, but it's a start, and it's teaching me. I did start with a blanket of color over the head too.

I don't know if you're using Photoshop, but the layers can be rotated (I have cs, I'm assuming most will do this.) Select all, then go to edit>transform>rotate and it will let you rotate it to wherever you need it to go. You can also flip it (as with the one piece that sticks out on her face, it's the same piece of hair, just flipped and rotated)

anyway, onward and upward...thanks so much for the encouragement...this can be so frustrating. When are you going to have a new piece??

take care!

I think it's amazing for a beginning person !
I'm trying to learn it myself, it's not quite easy
Nice work!