Reading an image...

Look carefully at the image.  

This is what I see in a 'pecking order' of visual importance. 

A sleeping red, large dragon. 
A green throne. 
Gold coins, treasure. 
Two child figures. 
Armour - Swords, shields, daggers, axes, helmets.  
A hot fire lantern. 
Heat on the ceiling.
A cold blue cave. 

What the image is about. What is it saying? 

Two children have entered a cave with a fire lantern. One child appears to be embracing the scene, one child appears nervous standing behind the other. Within the cave they have found a large sleeping, red dragon. The dragon is wrapped around a royal green throne. The throne is surrounded by treasure. It would appear the dragon is there to protect the throne, his tale rests upon it. 

At the forefront of the scene is a pile of armour and weaponry. 

Work out the narrative and identify the story. 

Two children have gone out in pursuit of a tale of a real life dragon. They have entered a cold and dark cave, armed only with a fire lit lantern. Withing the cave, they see that the tales they had heard are in fact true. Ahead of them, they see a large, sleeping, red dragon guarding a throne and treasure, with the tail of the dragon resting on the green throne cushion. One child is excited by this vision, with arms stretched out, ready to embrace the challenge. One child is nervous and unsure, pointing to the exit of the cave. Other people have failed in their attempts to approach the dragon, leaving behind them a pile of redundant armour and weaponry. Others have left the cave defeated. 

The story is 'Tom's Clockwork Dragon' illustrated by Mark Oliver. 

Describe the palette and tonal range which has been used. Note if the colours are hot or cold, whether the elements are detailed or textual, and where these approaches are used. 

Hot colours have been used to show the heat of the fire lantern on the ceiling of the cave. The use of a lantern means it is dark. The use of red, orange and yellow also indicate danger. What is interesting here it the actual flame of the fire is minute, however the use of colour is enormous. 

Cold colours, shades of blue have been used to show the dark and cold walls and ground of the cave. The use of purple shades behind the dragon show darkness and shadow. 

The ceiling of the cave is textured, stalactites. The ground is uneven, pebbly in effect. 
The claws of the dragon are razor sharp. 
The black and white horns of the dragon are detailed. 

Is there a connection between hot colour and the importance of the element in telling the story? 

Yes. The heat is the danger ahead. The bright red tone of the dragon is a match to the red hot heat of the ceiling of the cave. The lantern is leading the children to danger. 

Begin to identify the hierarchy of within the image. Which are the most important elements in terms of carrying the narrative or conveying the ideas and how these have been treated. 

In order of importance, this is what I now see: 

1. A red (dangerous) dragon. 
2. Two children (One excited, one nervous). 
3. Throne (green. Royal). 
4. Treasure. 
6. The cave (danger. dark). 
7. Weaponry (redundant. Defeat). 

The narrative is the challenge of the dragon and the children. Can they take on the dragon that has left so many before them defeated?