On the spydie... I like very much. Your shading is good. I like the background shape idea. I like that a few leaves dared to cross over the border. Your background removal looks spot on and the scroll backbones are all really well shaped and proportioned. There are a couple of larger areas of blackground that could have used a bit more leaf there, also something i have been picking up in my work the 'noodle' part of the scroll that curles around to the head, ball, claw, leaf whatever.... Sometimes i make one thick and the next thin ... Little things that all come with practice. You are doing great.