The only thing that throws me a bit is the blurry background. But it’s a matter of taste I guess. I like everything in focus or completely blurred out but thats just me.

Funny, I was just gunna say the opposite! Definitely a matter of taste. I know that blurring the background and creating depth of field is a really hard technique, and this is quite convincing to me.

I do think that perhaps the rocks (I think they are rocks) at the bottom left, if you give a little detail to the front ones, it will sell your depth of field blurring a bit more.

The figure itself is great, I couldn’t come up with any real criticism of it at all. It is superb!

This is very realistic, especially the scarf. For myself, the universal blur of the background could become more crisp as it comes forward.

The shirt and the scarf are superb, both in terms of unusual colors together for a western eye, and in terms of the gracefulness of the stripes and the paisley pattern.

The skin tones are nice, as well as the accuracy of the features. However the front of the neck looks like a bubble, awkward. Also the flesh highlights look too ashen, as if the person has white powder on them.

The background is fine blurry, I think it helps keep the figure as the main focus. However you took such care with the figure and the background looks like a sloppy afterthought. It isn’t painted with the same amount of grace and skill as your figure. Even if it is blurry it should be done with care – for example the building is crooked, and the path looks way too steep. Both problems add a feeling of stress – imbalance. This could have easily been fixed by thinking about this and fixing the photo reference ahead of time, instead of just slavishly copying it.

I like it it very much. The one thing I think I would tinker with is the rocks. I agree that a little more detail in the closer rocks would help sell the depth. I think the figure is done and I like what you did with the hut and sky. Are you on instagram?

Absolutely gorgeous! Like a couple of others have mentioned, if those rocks on the left came to a sharper focus it could add to the depth- but also as others have said, this is crazy good so don’t overthink it

Excellent work Megan,to my old eyes those “rocks” look more like raw ginger to me,smiling.
Dave

Excellent! Terrific work on the figure, composition, and color, and I think the softness of the background is good just as it is now.

My only comment would be to the character of drawing in the rocks- maybe more angular with distinct planes.