Sometimes you need an outside opinion to see your work with a fresh eye.  I have struggled for months with a pastel of my daughter titled "Spring".  I loved the quiet mood and soft light of the pose.  Anna humored me by sitting several times with the wreath (which she felt looked silly).  At one point I felt I had finished the pastel but was not completely satisfied with it.

I took the pastel to critique night at the local art guild and found the reaction to the painting was similar to the way I felt.  The other members said it was too quiet and suggested some stronger color be added.  Right away I saw what they meant and when I got home I added some more saturated reds to the edge of the shadow in the face and some blues to the background and finally, in about 15 minutes time, got the painting I wanted.

Thanks Romeo Guild of Art.  The critique was a big help.