By the skin of my teeth, I just handed this in to a California client for today's deadline. These jobs where I just keep my nose to the display and don't look right or left of the cursor always leave me terrified that it really, really stinks and that I'm deluding myself that I am finished.

The story is about a researcher who studied the fact that if you smile, just lift the corners of your mouth with no reason, you will feel better, even if nothing else changes. I've tried it. It works. End of research.

They asked for my dot technique and supplied the reference for the portrait. I don't think I would have gone that direction with the photo I had to work from. It looked more like it should have been an ethereal watercolor to me. My fingers are crossed they will approve it.