ART STUDIO

Rays of light shine through the window and cast a yellow tone, but how do you know that you may ask? This is because of the long shadows that are cast and the subtle yellow tone that permeates through the scene. Scene composition and working with colour is not an easy thing at times, and it can be the cause of stress, but one of the really effective ways I have found in helping to decipher what colours or scene composition I should use, is by working with the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ method. This actually comes from fiction writing and the whole “show, don’t tell” concept, but it also works really well when creating scenes,

So for example, I want a scene to be at sunset – but then how will I know it’s at sunset? May sound obvious (and this approach can be of more help in cases where there is complex subject matter that is proving a sticking point), but this will be through a process of deduction and helps focus the work that’s to be produced – So for example, if Holmes was here and I asked him how does he know this is at sunset.

He would say it’s at sunset because of the tones and shadows. Then he could go deeper and deeper into detail if necessary. This approach I would take before starting the scene, asking myself questions about “how I do know” and these act as a great guide for setting the scene or evoking emotions I am looking to evoke.