Week 6 Analyzing Visual Images and Design in Picturebooks

Select an image from Voices in the Park to consider. Use the following questions to guide your analysis. Take a Screen Shot of the Image and embed the image in your blog. 

1. What is fore-grounded and in the background?

There is a walk-way and shadows from the trees in the foreground and people (monkeys) in the background.

2. Consider the path your eyes follow as you approach the image. What catches your eye first? Why is that element salient?

The first thing that catches my eye in the picture is was the light that is shining behind the monkeys. I think it stands out the most to me because it is the brightest color in the picture and in the center.

3. What colors dominate the image? What effect does this have on you as reader?

Like I said above, the yellow light stands out the most, but there are also purple lights in the tree and since it is picture book when you run your curser over them they shin and fall to the ground. I reader might have a feeling of love when looking at this the monkeys who are clearly sharing a nice moment and the lights in the tree make it feel magical.

4. Consider the use of white (negative) space. Are the illustrations framed or full bleed? How does this position you as a viewer?

The white (negative space) in the picture would be the white walk-way. The illustrations are full bleed because the shadows on the trees are running on the image on all sides.

5. What is the reality value or level of abstraction? Are the images life-like or stick figures?

The images in the picture are very life like and the figures are as well even though they are monkeys.

6. Are there any recurring patterns in the images?

The shadows on the ground from the trees, however, the shadows are different sizes.

7. Are there any anomalous elements? Things that stick out, or seem out of place? Are these important to consider?

The only thing that really caught my eye was that on the left side of the image there is an extra tree. I really don’t think that there is any significance to the tree being there.

8. What is the artist trying to get you to look at through leading lines, colors, contrast, gestures, lighting?

The artist wants the focus to be on the monkeys. The sidewalk is in the very center of the picture which leads to the monkeys. There is a bright yellow light behind them which is very eye-catching. The shadows from the tree indicate that the sun is most likely the setting (which would explain the bright yellow light behind the monkeys).

9. Are there any recurring symbols or motifs in the images?

There are recurring motifs which would be the tree themselves; the shadows from the trees, the lights in the tree are decorations that reoccur, and the two sidewalks.

10. Consider the style or artistic choices? Are they appropriate, and how do they add to the meanings of the picture book?

The text on the side of the picture says, “Charlie picked a flower and gave it to me.” Picking a flower usually symbolizes romance or love. I feel that the artistic choices were perfect to symbolize what they text states. It is a very romantic setting, from the sparkling lights in the tree to the sun setting in the background.

11. How are the images framed? Are there thick borders or faded edges?

There is not boarder around the image; the image almost looks like it was cut unevenly out of paper.

12. Consider the setting of the story. How is this realized in the images? Realistically? Metaphorically?

Since the story is about monkeys, most of the images are not realistic, however, the image I chose is. The monkeys are really far away in the picture and could almost pass as humans. The setting is very realistic as well, other than the sparkles that fall from the tree.

13. Consider size and scale. What is large? Why are certain elements larger than others? Does this add to meanings of power, control?

The trees are the largest elements in the image. I think that they are the prettiest objects in the image, but I don't feel that it has anything to do with power or control. I believe that the angle of the trees is helpful to make the readers eye go straight to the characters. 

14.  Consider the viewer’s point of view. Do characters directly gaze or address the viewer? Are the characters close up or distanced? How does point of view add to relationships with the characters?

The characters do not gaze at the viewers because they are looking directly at each other. The characters are very far in the distance, and since they are looking directly at one another (as well as the setting); it shows that they are interested in one another.