PLEASE CRITIQUE - Picture with Santa re-edit

[theantiquetiger]

I am thinking about using this as Christmas cards. I have worked it over and over so many times, I just don't even see it anymore. I like the "pencil drawing" feel to it, but want other's opinions. I can easily get rid of the red frame, etc. I tried forever to get color in both of their faces. I would get one, the other would fade. This was as close as I could get.

[Realist]

I went back and looked, and I would say this is better than the original.

[theantiquetiger]

The more I look at this, the more I love it. It has a Norman Rockwell feel to it.

[Marko]

I really like this version better and it does look a bit Rockwellish.
If I'm being critical I'd say Santa's face is too 'cool' compared to the other faces so I might warm it up a bit.
Your daughter with the red bow, her face seems a just a teeny bit too orangey for me. Her ear colour looks more natural than the cheek colour.
You'll need to select these areas separately - global edits won't work here as the tones in the different areas you are trying to correct are very different at the outset.
Hope that may help and it's jmo.

[Bambi]

totally works for me.

[Andrew]

It's a great version but I agree with Marko saying Santa needs rosy red cheeks. To do that you'd also have to bring out the faces of the girls more as well. They are after all the subject of the photo and need to be highlighted over anything else. Still, I do like what you've done and would certainly keep it as well.

[theantiquetiger]

OK Marko, I did a little coloring on their faces, what do y'all think?

(added new version to original post)

[asnow]

I like the second one for the Santa face.You expect Santa to have the rosy cheeks. Still not sure about the skin colour of your daughters faces. I'm certainly no expert on skin tones but it seems to me that maybe somewhere between the first and second one, but closer to second one.

[Marko]

Sorry you are having trouble here AT.
Santa looks great but both daughters look worse.
Green bowed daughter (sorry I forget the names) looked fine to my eye in post 1, now her colour looks unnatural and uneven
Red bowed daughter also looks worse skin tone wise to my eye - Too orangey/peachy.

I forget - what graphics program do you use?