Reading an image

Look carefully at this image

• What is the image about. what is it saying? the image is of scene in a cave the image flows thought the colours
• Work out the narrative and identify the story? The image is a narrative about children searching a cave and finding a dragon, they where probably looking for the treasure.
• Describe the palette and tonal range which has been used.  Note if the colours are hot or cold, whether the elements are detailed or textural, and where these approaches are used. the main focus parts are done with very hot colours from the colour of the children torch to the dragon in less intensity. it guides the eye from the torch reflecting on the wall to the dragon. texture the background of the cave is very rough and textured, the texture of the dragon and children is smoother. the back ground is contrasted from a light cyan blue to a violet.
• is there any connection between hot colour and the importance of the element in telling the story. Red traditional denotes either passion or danger, purple royalty and luxury, this is however cultural interpretation based on western values. i think in this case it is important not only in telling the story but also in assigning meaning. it also helps to set heirachy in the picture, our eye follows the warmer colours, I read somewhere that this is because as a human we naturally follow hotter colours to assess danger first. i cant remember where i read it i will dig this out. could have been the lynda.com tutorial on colour theory.

Begin to identify the hierarchy with in the image.  Which are the most important elements in terms of carrying the narrative or conveying the ideas and how have these been treated? the most important image is probably the dragon, not only is it the hottist part of the image its also the lagist with the most contrast. secondary the flame of yellow draws the eye to the children with a complmentary colour of green .