Can Color Change Perception?

Lets begin with my original drawing. Soak it in. What do you see? Really look at it. I was drawing this with one thing in mind but the more I looked at it, the more I decided that it had become something else altogether.

I had created something that was adaptable. In order to portray exactly what I wanted it to be, I knew I had to add color. Now I am usually very apprehensive about adding color because I don’t want to convince the viewer what the art is or about. I want my art to always reach into the heart and experiences of the viewer to help me see what they do.

So, The first thing I did, was see something underwater. Something beautiful. I saw life, birth, and happiness. I pulled out my color pencils and started. Jellyfish, Coral and waves in the back ground to fully capture the beauty and life underwater.

But as I was coloring this, I had set it aside to make dinner, as I have been known to do, and it was turned in a way that my emotional attachment had changed. I now saw destruction, fire and conflict. What had changed my mind? To capture this, I decided to make a copy of the original to color this in yet another way. I pulled out my color pencils and viciously started drawing the harsh lines and the difference in the two blew me away.

What once was life and beauty, had turned to death and destruction. So I pose this question to you, my viewers, What do you see? I would love to see what you come up with. Tell me in the comments below, and don’t be afraid to look at the world differently than someone else.