A Mother's Love-Finished

I spent quite a bit of time today working on this and I think its done!

Some closeups:

A Mother's Love: 1/27/09

Some background color in:

A Mother's Love: 1/26/09

I did some more work on myself today. Here it is:

A closeup:

A Mother's Love: A bit of an update 1/23/09

I did some work on the hair and a bit more on the facial features.

Newest painting:A mother's love

I just started a new painting. Its something I have wanted to paint for a very long time. But I just am so intimidated by what I want to portray. I have this image in my head of what I want it to look like and I really want it to get there on paper. Well, I've decided its now or never. Life is to short to worry.
Here is the reference:

Here is the sketch:

And here is the first bit of paint: