Sister Claire

Since it was late anyway, I took a bit longer on this page to really perfect the lighting and composition.  This is a pretty important scene, after all.  Since a lot of people ask about my coloring methods, I’d like to talk a bit more about the thought that goes into it.

In this case, Claire is making an important decision, and it also happens to be late evening- so the color orange is very dominant in the color palette. The shadows are pink/magenta, which is the color associated with Catharine. 

I use color very symbolically in the comic.  Whenever a character is dominating a scene, so does their “character color.” I have attempted to establish these character colors in previous scenes featuring the characters.

Gabrielle’s color is blue, and it was the first color introduced in the previously colorless pages.  It reflects her effortlessly calm and confident attitude, as well as her associations with water.  Gabrielle’s appearance is the catalyst for all future weirdness in the comic, and I wanted to show this symbolically by having her change Claire’s black and white world to color. (Like in “The Wizard of Oz” where Dorothy leaves Kansas.)

Claire is a big ball of handwringing anxiety, but nonetheless she is generally optimistic and trusting.  Scenes focusing on her are warm-toned with a lot of yellow and orange, which reflect her energetic and positive nature.  He color is the symbolic torch of hope in a war-torn world, a light that leads the story forward.

Catharine’s color is maroon/magenta.  It has a similar brightness and warmth to Claire’s, but the redder shade is a subtle clue to the physical and mental pain she has endured.  You may have noticed that the entire Witch trial, as well as most scenes where she was possessed by Evil Cat, were very saturated with this color.

When Catharine becomes possessed, her magenta color becomes infused with yellows and greens, showing the duality of her transformation.

The twins have not only a character color, but their own special effects, too.  Whenever they make an appearance or dramatic statement, it’s accompanied by a blast of pink roses and spakles, as an homage to shoujo anime/manga.

Marguerite’s color is green, symbolizing her twisted mind and sickness.  Soon the reason for her zombie-like appearance and extraordinarily cruel and paranoid practices will become more clear.

I hope this helped to explain some of the unconventional coloring choices I make.  ;)