It tooks ages! lol- its his tongue licking the juice off the top lip as you say- you know the way kids savour the taste of juice...I did think of making the mouth just normal... but then I think it adds to the far away look... might revise...need my reading glasses on!

I think the lighting and details are better for sure!

yes- but the hair and the background are still a bit sketchy... and yet i have smoothed some bits too much... argh! back in a bit to revise...

Awww. :3
He looks like hes gonna cry. D:
I wanna give'em a hug! :D

Beautiful colors... looks like it could have been done with oil pastels. When I first viewed this, I was overwhelmed and pleased by the wonderful palette, but then my eye did go to his upper lip. I couldn't figure out what was going on there until I read the previous comments. After I knew, I could see what you had done. I think maybe if you put just a tiny bit of darker contrast around the edge of the tongue, or vary the shades of lip and tongue more, (I'd just play with it a little bit more if I were you) it would probably define that he is licking his upper lip.

Beautiful painting, Christine. :)

thanks both..! yes DBA I might well have another go at that...although its very close to the original photo...