Deconstruction of an image:

Aspiration:
This image was chosen because I believe it emits all the right feelings which add up to aspiration. What is aspiration? and what does it mean to be aspirational? According to definition, aspiration is a strong desire, longing, or aim; ambition. This can take many forms both mentally and physically. Mental aspirations which involves the pursuit for knowledge or enlightenment. Whereas physical aspirations can involve desiring a better physique or conquering an obstacle that challenges your body (hiking/travelling/building etc.)
Firstly, this image relates to all these values through the shadowing. The dark colours that progress into the light beams connote a progression. The light breaking through the claustrophobic atmosphere emits hope and that there is freedom from the dark gloomy area below which translates metaphorically to the human mind; the gloomy atmosphere being your negative thoughts and the light above would be your dreams. Another view on the positioning of the light could reference religion, the beams of light shining down and the glow of the sky mirrors the visualisation we know to be 'heaven' which in turn is a place desired by many who follow the religious path. Differently, the vines could be seen as the everyday shackles of society conforming and molding themselves round your mind to manipulate you into routine.    

What are my philosophical values in the world, do we have to have them? Philosophy is the idea I would turn to if I were ever feeling low in life or perhaps an extraordinary event happened that, as a result, aided me or my cause.
However, the concepts I would not turn to when I'm in need would be religion. I believe that religion is just a metaphorical shoulder in which people gather round to cry on, or a seemingly endless well to throw all your hopes into and thinking somehow life will be that little bit better, no. Not to say that I am against an ideology that gives people security and hope, I just don't see the 'deity' image as feasible.
Coming back to my personal beliefs, I do believe in the spirit/soul of nature so I  would appear to be an Animist. I respect the power and aesthetics of nature and our coincidental appreciation of it, I would view every living creature; big, small, over or underwater as having an equal life value to my own. I feel like I have developed these beliefs from having an understanding with the world through exploration. I have visited many different countries in my life, so far, and have been given the chance to really get the chance to view the natural world in many forms, evidently, I presume an appreciation for this has grown from exploring it.
I could probably further investigate and test my beliefs through continued exploration of the world around me and see my appreciation for life potentially grow. But from another perspective, perhaps my beliefs in Animism opposed to religion are biased because I have been reluctant to explore religion and faith enough to actually appreciate it like I have with the natural world.          

Narrative Sequence character creating...

Establishing an archetype for a character. 

--> Image from David Firth's Art book. The black, white and grey colour scheme is my personal taste.

John Banovich's Tiger in the snow drawing, proportions and bleak 

colouring is very powerful to create realism.