Traces of the Owner: This is a Lived-in Space

A large-scale but clearly used space. The space itself is grand—high ceilings, large stone surfaces, symmetrical axes—but the image shows clear signs of life: a half-read book lies open on a table, its pages held down; two used teacups and a teapot are on the coffee table; the sofa cushions show indentations from being sat on; a jacket is draped over a chair back; a pair of shoes are off on the floor; a pair of scissors rests next to a plant by the window. These traces prevent the grand space from becoming an uninhabited show home; the key to its human touch is the presence of people, not just things. Avoid: depicting the space as an immaculate show home, removing all signs of use, making the traces messy or dirty, adding too many cluttered items that detract from the grand atmosphere.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

一個大尺度但明顯被使用的空間。空間本身是氣派的——高天花、大面石材、對稱的軸線,但畫面中有清楚的生活痕跡:案上攤著一本讀到一半的書,書頁被壓住;茶几上有兩只用過的茶杯與一個茶壺;沙發的坐墊有坐過的凹陷;一件外套搭在椅背上;地上有一雙脫下的鞋;窗邊的植物旁放著一把剪刀。這些痕跡讓氣派的空間不至於變成無人的樣品屋,人文的關鍵是有人而不只是有東西。避免:把空間畫成一塵不染的樣品屋、移除所有使用的痕跡、把痕跡畫得凌亂骯髒、加入過多的雜物破壞大氣感。