I am really impressed by the highlights technique of your friend. Especially because it's something I'm not able to do...
I just can do some shadows with the "washing" technique, but this is something really pro!
The choice of using tunes of gray instead of metal reminds me of the Rackham official pictures, which were a very good thing to look at. Your friend David rules
Unluckily, I'm too far to ask him to paint my stuff too, otherwise I think I'd think to...
Maybe it's not an elegant question, but I ask just to have an idea and a comparison with other painters... how much did he ask for this job?
You're obviously free to give me no answer.