Circular staircase --Comments needed

[Aura]

Hey Guys--
I haven't posted in awhile...but i just did this piece for a class and need to know what you guys think! Comments and critiques welcome, thanks!
http://www.rsad.edu/~lzimmerm/shadowdawn20copy.jpg

[fukifino]

It looks good but I think you have some perspective issues on the left side of the painting. The stairs seem to bunch up on that side (especially noticable on the level right above her) and stop radiating properly.

And I'm not sure if the above problem is the cause of it, but where the steps meet the stones, you really lose the sense that they two objects are perpendicular.

The figure itself though is really good and the overall perspective seems to be working.

[battlemonkey]

no offense, but i see a MALE instead of a Female. Unless he is wearing a females breast plate? I think it might be the large hands, short hairdo, neck muscles and strong jaw line. i know its ok for women to be strong etc etc, but MY opinion, you should be able to tell the difference between the two, other wise it just causes confusion to the viewer.
with the staircase, i think if you sharpened the edges, the stairs will look more 'stair' like.
the top of the staircase, i thought it was a roof with an opening in it.
with the two figures on the top, for them to have that kind of silhouette, they would have to be laying down with half of their body hanging over the edge.
just trying to help
:chug:

[Rockman]

Looks good, I'd just suggest some detail...maybe defined wood grains on the stairs or stitches on his/her pants....

[Aura]

Thanks Guys! Appreciate the comments! :D

[Francis]

Good job - I think you picked just about the most difficult condition to practice perspective! Looking up at a spiral staircase, geez..

You want to emphasize the convergence of lines/vanishing point as much as possible. That's why in drawings of cars or spaceships or buildings, you might rely on cutlines or wall joints to reinforce the converging lines and body contours.

In this case, I might suggest adding some vertical elements to the staircase (such as vertical columns on the inner wall of the tower, maybe hanging ropes, chains or tapestries) - this will reinforce the visual that you are looking up through a cylinder.

Adding other elements that mark the cylinder at regular vertical intervals (for instance, a ring of differently colored brick at each floor, even though that's really silly) will also show that the stairs are spiralling up inside the tower. Man, hope that makes sense..