Hope

This composition contains a rainbow of muted tones. Subject matter tells a story with symbolism and action. The theme from my perspective is Man vs God. Compositional elements may distract from this intriguing theme.

The palette of colors here appears to be derived from the blue-green overcast tones of a thunder storm. These colors are effective and beautiful Contrast is high, and the overall color scheme is complimentary.

The format is vertically symmetrical, with dense subject matter in two opposite corners. The top right contains gorgeous lightly golden balloons. The bottom left contains a dark black industrial facility. These two elements balance the composition and give it gravity. Also, the lack of detail and the foreshortening in the building walls show great depth.

Medially bisecting the composition is a gigantic severed arm held aloft by golden balloons. The arm has long fingers which point at the buildings. It has a humorous bone protruding from the bicep. The arm appears huge and distant, with low detail in the skin and bones. Its shadow is obscured by the long shadows of the overcast sky. All of these details effectively make it appear ominous and big.

Under the bicep muscle of that arm is a light pole. It almost overlaps the arm as a foreground element, falling short by a hair. However, it stands as a tall example of the scale of the arm, and leans a bit towards the center of the image. It is one of three towers beneath the arm, all of which lean towards the left. The third is a fire truck ladder, which leans the most. These towers are an important part of the composition, adding variation and perspective. They also lend to an overall tilting of things toward the center of the image. It's an eerie effect, reducing the overall gravity, and setting the stage for a Newtonian-fluid composition. It might have gravity, it may be falling or floating, depending on your perspective while viewing it.

Distracting elements are the high detail in the balloon string, and the use of colorful overlays. Also, the humorous bone appears to be the wrong anatomy. These things help make it a colorful and dynamic composition, however reduce its effectiveness as a narrative of symbols.

The balloon string is distracting from the overall depth of the composition, and brings the middle ground element of the arm to the foreground. That's because it appears to have striking details, while the arm, which is the same distance away has few details.

The image appears to have a red overlay which adds speckles and grunge to everything. This texture has a pattern which repeats, and is on top of all of the elements. This is colorful and artistic. It also reduces realistic elements which otherwise may have been more effective. For example, including the red overlay on the sky and ground, but not the buildings or arms would have been more realistic.

The humorous bone is one bone in the upper arm. The bones poking out of this monster arm resemble tibia and fibula bones. It appears very meaty and fleshy, due to the pink and red muscle exposed around the bone.

Symbolism is manifest in the ominous arm pointing at an equally ominous industrial facility surrounded by people. There is higher power symbolism due to the arm's position, which is similar to Da Vinci's arm of God in The Creation of Adam. With the people included in the story told by these symbols, it is a picture of the sins of industrialism. The hand of a higher power points to the industry which effects all creation.

I am a tiny bit distracted by technique in this image. However, it does not call out for repair. The picture is beautiful, colorful and darkly whimsical. I really enjoy this composition.

Well done! <img src="e.deviantart.com/emoticons/s/s…" width="17" height="16" alt="" title="Star!" /><img src="e.deviantart.com/emoticons/s/s…" width="17" height="16" alt="" title="Star!" /><img src="e.deviantart.com/emoticons/s/s…" width="17" height="16" alt="" title="Star!" /><img src="e.deviantart.com/emoticons/s/s…" width="17" height="16" alt="" title="Star!" />