Penny, it takes a while to come to terms with pastels but you have have done well. I particularly like the eye. It ‘lives’. I also prefer CP’s. It is worth taking a look at the pastels forum. There are some good tips there.

I find pastels difficult too. It’s a nice portrait, you’ve managed to get some good detail. I like the shine on the nose.

I like your drawing and color/value direction! The surface looks pretty textured- you may have a better result on a fine-tooth sanded paper (UArt 500-600?) will respond really well to a technique more like colored pencils. My pastel work may be more like painting, but it does have occasional fine details.

Good! Pastel may give you more possibilities for changes, removal, softening, and color. I am always surprised by what it can accomplish! Get a sample pack if available with a variety of grits to see what works best for you.

It’s still a working progress at the moment. Hoping to get back to it in the next week

good start… Texture of the paper is noticeable, just a matter of taste but yet you may prefer a non textures surface for you to achieve higher detail and realism.