Our Perceptions of Color: Movement & Texture

Our eyes are the vessels in which our brain receives and begins to perceive color. It is fascinating to me that everyone sees color differently and even more so that we don't have access to other people's perceptions. Those two concepts lured me into a journey of abstraction and to explore some of the many questions I have about color perception. Currently the foundation and subject of my artwork is color itself. Color is powerful and effects the human brain in a variety of ways. Color has the ability to trigger emotions, positive or negative responses, memories, smells, etc. What about color causes the human brain to have these various reactions? Why do people have a "favorite color" and why/how did they chose that one out of the millions there are? Why does the color red generate an aggressive response in some, but makes others cheerful? These are just a few examples of the numerous questions I am constantly asking myself and exploring in my artwork.

In my newest painting I am attempting to explore how the human brain's perception of color changes when texture and motion are added to its composition. Does the texture create a tactile experience for the viewer even though they can't touch it? Does the movement of the paint effect the viewer's experience with the colors? Do certain painterly gestures lead to different emotional responses? How would the viewer perceive identical strokes in different colors? Is our perception of color interactions effected by the texture and movement of the paint, or would it be the same if the surface area was flat and static? There are more questions I am posing and exploring in this work of art, but just to give you a glimpse into my thought processes when I am creating. This is only the beginning. Let me know what you think or how you feel, leave me a comment below!

Alison Palizzolo, Perception: Movement & Texture I, 2016, acrylic spray paint and liquid acrylics on canvas.

Alison Palizzolo, Perception: Movement & Texture I (detail), 2016, acrylic spray paint and liquid acrylics on canvas.

Alison Palizzolo, Perception: Movement & Texture I (detail), 2016, acrylic spray paint and liquid acrylics on canvas.

Alison Palizzolo, Perception: Movement & Texture I (detail), 2016, acrylic spray paint and liquid acrylics on canvas.

Alison Palizzolo, Perception: Movement & Texture I (detail), 2016, acrylic spray paint and liquid acrylics on canvas.