Work in progress by Carole Russell

I think that the perpective recession of the balustrade doesn't match that of the stairs. Try projecting the top and bottom balustrade to a vanishing point, then use the same VP for the stairs. Brian

Sorry Carole cant help in perspective thats my weak point, but I think you have used very interesting colours here and look forward to seeing it ready.

Carole, where the trough is - it is like you are going up hill (in fact the tough would be sliding)- to my eye it looks like the arch columns should be longer to bring them down to ground level - making the arch look longer and narrower and this your vanishing point in line with the balustrade at the top of the painting. (The balustrade on the left - the columns have got to come down in line with the arch - perhaps the trough should be under the arch. Other than that this is a wonderful painting. I love the colours you have used. There is nothing wrong with the rest of it. It is very interesting indeed. Hope it is clear!

Thanks all. I will be attacking it again on Friday so will try out your suggestions and keep you posted

Hi Carole, found you at last. Stairs are very tricky; I have a print by a German artist from Christies Contemporary Art which constantly frustrates because the stair is all wrong, so you are in good company. Can I suggest it is the perspective which needs looking at? The wall on the right looks like it's set up in one-point perspective but the stairs have a vanishing point way off to the left, whereas they should be parallel to the bottom of the picture. Maybe the flight should be foreshortened more. This composition looks like really tricky test in perspective draughtsmanship. Good luck!

Robert - thanks for taking the time to look. I really am getting fed up with this one now. I've adjusted all I can muster and will post the finished image soon. Just waiting for my new camera to arrive! Then I will get on with something new - with NO STAIRS ever again!

Hi Carole,I would'nt worry too much about the perspective-makes it look a lot more interesting.Colours are great too.

Thanks Mike. I have adjusted slightly and will be posting the finished one soon. I really apprecaite your support!

looks fine to me.

Thanks for your commenting on 'heather sienna sketch'. I do like this painting, especially the variety of textures, such as the brick and plaster. It has a surreal quality as if the scene had been imagined. Maybe the hint of a figure at the top of the stair or beneath an arch would enhance it further.

Thanks Neil - finished without figures I'm afraid but you can see the finished one here: http://www.painters-online.co.uk/gallery/picture.asp?id=4463

I would leave the viewer guessing. Looks mysterious and has a slightly uneasy atmosphere. I like it as it is. Not sure if I want to be there after dark!

I would leave the viewer guessing. Looks mysterious and has a slightly uneasy atmosphere. I like it as it is. Not sure if I want to be there after dark!

Hi Carole I'm still catching up slowly...It is an interesting and well executed work. I like it very much and in your inimitable style...the perspective here looks OK IMHO. No one has picked up on steps 7 - 10 which are not carried through the rails...it looks a little odd IMHO.

Cheers Andrew

You are quite right about the stairs Phil - too late now it's finished in my head - oh well - recently sold a print of it for £100 tho - so after looking at it for a while I'm sure they'll come to the same conclusion! oops!

Hi Carole. I would never have noticed about the perspective but I think Jeannette is on the right track -the painting is otherwise great - I love the colours. Like your other pictures ,too. Particularly the Capri painting. Do you live abroad? There are so many paintings of different areas, or are you just a great traveller?

Hi Judith - this painting has since be completed and can be seen here: http://www.painters-online.co.uk/gallery/picture.asp?id=4463 No I don't live abroad - I will when my numbers come up, but for now I'll just paint Capri (we are lucky enough to go each year for 2 weeks - I take loads of photos and memories back home and paint them). The Venice paintings are from photos I took back in the 90's when I visited. Thanks for taking a look!

Did you ever post the finished version of this? I'm sure I saw it in a competition somewhere. It's really promising but for that stair. I hope you got it fixed.

Hi Carole Thanks for your comments on my portfolio. Re. work in progress, I don't really care about the perspective, Neil above is right - it is the surreal quality that is interesting. I think it would lose the surreal quality if you 'got it right'. If you are determined to master the perspective, try it as a drawing putting in the vanishing points. Then you won't be concerned about ruining a good painting. That's what I would do, I guess.

staircase should be at a steeper angle