Heartbreak Productions Commission: "Harriet Smith"

This was my second attempt at Harriet, my first curtailed due to a change of bonnet, which completely altered the look of the actor's forehead and shadows.  This portrait was to look unfinished as it would be "painted" during the performance by Emma.  I completed this rather quickly - in a morning - but the problem was that, despite the lack of background, it did look rather too complete.  I needed to find a way to "uncomplete" it, while maintaining the likeness of the actor playing Harriet.

My first attempt was to paint in a sketchy background, an isolated area of pattern on the dress, a loose brush stroke across the dress edging and a sweep of paint across the ribbon.  This didn't really do the job.  In the end, I decided to add white paint to areas in the bottom right and top left, to make it seem sketchy and unfinished.