Images of broken light by asarian

BLUE SUN ROOM IMAGES

Images of broken light
Saturday, November 11, 2006

This theme is based on the lyrics of "Across The Universe" (Lennon/McCartney). "Images of broken light" are what draw Simon to go rescue his little sister: "Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes, they call me on and on across the universe." On the left we see Simon, looking at the images of broken light: River-That-Was and the shadow of her former self after the Academy got their hands on her. Despite his high social status and wealth, Simon can no longer bear it, and goes after her: "Limitless, undying love which shines around me like a million suns, it calls me on and on across the universe." The lyrics suit him well. It's Love. In point of fact. (Extended Commentary below).

CATEGORY: GRAPHICS TIMES READ: 3282 RATING: 9 SERIES: FIREFLY

COMMENTS

Saturday, November 11, 2006 12:22 PM

ASARIAN

(Extended Commentary)

The theme, Simon deciding to go rescue his dear mei-mei, necessarily precluded the use of any real BDM images; and all Firefly images too, lol; safe those from Safe that are flash-backs of their youth. So, please, excuse the low amount of included images.

For background I took a known object in space: a sun, with a sort of ring system around it (regular space is a bit too empty for me). Besides, the ring system provides a kind of 'motion trail' that symbolizes travel.

"broken light" is hard to express. Sure enough, the metaphorical plane offers a plethora of imagery. But expressing "broken light" in a physical sense is much harder. Pieces of a broken mirror? Too corny. Then there are RGB channel shifts, the use of "negatives", and an array of assorted other distortions. But all are too brutally "broken" (not to mention, gross).

But since this is supposed to be art, I wanted to express "broken light" on a physical plane, too. So, I inverted the light source. Instead of the sun casting its light on all, the source of light is actually the darkest place in the image: Academy River, lighting up Simon's face to the left, and brightening the sun to the right. This inverse light source, though metaphorically very fitting, is "broken" in the world of physics. That satisfied my artistic bone. Besides, apart from not looking gross (you don't want that in art, lol), the outward beams on River are positioned in such an angle that they give her almost Angelic properties -- not something I mind attributing to River, either. :)

P.S. Sorry for the repost. There were some facial distortions in the "River Tam sessions" River that I noticed and just couldn't allow to remain.

Saturday, November 11, 2006 12:23 PM

ASARIAN

Posted by FollowMal Saturday, November 11, 2006 - 06:59

Have to say, attributing angelic properties to River's lovely face seems perfect to me as well.

Lovely piece, very evocative of the love Simon felt in going to find his sister... the "light of discovery" regarding the lies the "school" were saying---- the light of the "clues" River sent him in her correspondense.

So expressive of that.

And I have to add that I LOVED that you didn't use something cliche ( like shattered mirrors ) the light diffused and playing around the faces and off the sun and rings is so much more artistic.

All in all your most recent success. Made me smile wistfully for River's being saved by her beloved brother and made me afraid for her at the same time, that her sadness and the lack of "light" in her life still plagues her.

Saturday, November 11, 2006 1:25 PM

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER

Wow...beautiful...absolutely beautiful, asarian!

Definitely strikes me as a counterpoint to River's vision in the BDM when she's is looking at Miranda in space through the schoolroom's tabletop computer screen...mainly in that River sees Miranda as the driving factor in her life till the message is broadcast and Simon views River as his driving factor till she's "healed":D

BEB

Saturday, November 11, 2006 1:27 PM

MIRAMEL

REALLY amazing, asarian- i'm afraid i have very little constructive to add from an art perspective, due to the fact that i have no art perspective. but, from the ley perspective, this is a truly amazing bit of work. you've done a wonderful job with the lighting and especially the way it goes at bigriver from both sides like that, and she's just clothed in darkness there. lovely!

Saturday, November 11, 2006 4:20 PM

ASARIAN

Hi Miramel! Always good to hear from you again. And thank you, BlueEyedBrigadier! You always say the nicest things about my work. :) And you, FollowMal, who could ask for a more loyal friend? Although "loyal" might suggest you're just being obligatorily nice (eew; that sounds awfully crooked, but is probably grammatically correct anyway). And I know you're always truthful and speaking from your heart.

Talking about speaking, I actually forgot to tell something about the work.

Ever wondered what that yellow-ish colored area is in the lower left corner? Well, especially the outer ring, seen as a curve to travel along, is color-coded, as it were, representing the transition from warmer colors (River's youth), to a color that's more cold: the period after her youth (the transitional rim is, horizontally aligned with small-River's head). The yellow-ish spot, apart from being generally warm and cozy, actually is supposed to be reminiscent of the fireplace in the Tam residence (where the footage is from). I didn't actually put the fireplace in -- not even smudged or something; but the color is so chosen that the brain, hopefully, will make the association anyway. And then, right above that 'timeline' the color shifts to a "cooler" one, as River is pulled from her place of warmth and home.

All-in-all, as I'm experimenting with this whole art thingy, I find myself surprised at how much you can really do with light.

Sunday, November 12, 2006 12:12 AM

MPHILLIPS

A really thoughtful and moving piece of work...kudos..

PS...it's always about the light

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