After looking at the study and comparing it to what seemed to be a finished painting, I realized that what I liked best about the study was that the paper did not draw attention to itself.  In this piece I was having way to much fun painting the paper and it was truly distracting.  I had to decide what was more important....the paper or the subjects in front that were coming out of the paper.  Once I got that resolved, I softened the edges of the paper and took down some of the intensity of the contrast and temperature.  They were small changes that made a large difference.  I know I should have photographed the before and after, but I didn't.  So you will have to trust me that it's much better.

There is something to be said for analyzing and waiting for the answer.  In this case, as in many, it's like writing....what is the thesis?  Is what is being done supportive to the thesis?  If not, one has to figure out why.  And often it is the small changes that make the biggest and best difference.