Posing …
to catch the light!

Painters in the Caravagionesque style were masters in the study of light, but all major works I’m aware of use dramatic lighting by using exclusively white light or yellow/reddish light from sources of fire. The step I’m trying to add in my design is to further investigate the use of monochromatic light sources (or at least light sources with a single dominant colour).

A complementary contrast
In this work two main light sources are present. The blue light of the lightning bolt at the top of the composition and the orange light of the lighting below. The hue that both light sources cast creates a complementary colour contrast, yet this is not the only way in which they create complementary dualities. The light from the lightning bolt is harsh and creates starkly defined shadows with hard edges. The light from the lava is soft and creates soft transitions of value. Both put together create a complementary contrast is the casting of shadows. This interplay of light also causes the orange glow of the lava to tint the harsh shadows created by the lightning bolt.‍ ‍ Pepijn, 2019