I can see to even make some correction to the original picture girl's nose and other features.
If your process where a lot of painting, then you make a painting, if you used a lot of pictures and all of them are visible in your final render, then you make a photomanip.
If you painted, but your approach its of a lot of drawing, then you make a drawing.
So for me at least, this is a magnificent painting and if people flag you for photomanip thats just jealousy.

+10

Excellent work!....great colors and details!....top marks!
Carlos

This is Fantastic Michael
incredible technique, cool colors and style +10

Absolutely Awesome work!!! I love everything about it... cool coloring, Way cool style... nice touch with the feather, beautiful handling of the hair ( very soft touch)

The only thing that I noticed might be to bring the dark part of the left ear into the hair & give it a lost edge.

Looking forward to future pieces!!!

Beautiful picture. I love a lot those skintones!

Excellent work; Your color choices and textures are top notch. Keep the masterpieces coming

+10

*Edit: Painted over or not, it doesn't bother me because you proved your talent already; The choice is up to you how highly you reference, be it gridding, painting over, etc. I'm glad you're honest about your methods, I know certain artists who should follow suite.

Fantastic! +10

great idea and wonderful work!

I love it! Very nice use of colours and great textures! I think that it belongs to the painting section...
Very well done!
+10

i guess painting because to me this seems to be more a painting than a photo manipulation.

Gorgeous colors!

Amazing work!!!! Colours are GREAT!

Perfect title for a perfect picture (and a perfect beauty )

Wooow
Wonderful!

Nikola.

Amazing painting! Very clean and rich...

You've gone so far from the reference, that this piece truly stands for itself. Wonderful colors. Very beautiful!

This is a very well made work! The face looks just great! You gave more expression here than the original photo!
And this is definately belongs to the painting category...

Beautiful work!

Excellent work; I'd say it's more like painting.. similar to a few cyprex's works. 9/9

I love this, love it love. The second I saw it. I love wearing hairsticks with a spray of feathers. And that necklace is spectacular! If I have big beads I would go make it right now, haha.
And teh warm against all that cool makes it really pop. It's a good painting

excellent work its a painting for me
well done +9

Dude this one is another awesome piece!!! congrats 9P

Damb! Love it. Your choice of colours (including the background), the clean/sharp style, the lighting and textures, the attention to detail... all perfect (IMO). Excellent painting! By far my favourite of you works.

wwoow beautiful portrait i like her face expression, and illumination effects. +10/10

I don't think this is a photomanip anymore, for it is more to painting and i can see you're only use the photo as a reference. Anyway excellence job, and great painting and rendering skill, you're the man!

i like the marble base, it looks real
nice job on her face

thats really great!!!!! i love her hair and make up

i love the colors

Wow! It's very realistic.

ShE Is So BeAuTiFuL! GrEaT CoNcEpT! *^_^*