We have a remarkable ability to see patterns where there are none, to see pictures in clouds, smoke, and rocks. We’re particularly prone to see faces, perhaps because facial recognition is such an important survival skill.
“Images d’Epinal,” an old French firm that provided popular prints for generations, has long published pictures with hidden images, especially faces. One of the curious effects of these pictures is that our pareidolia kicks in, and we see more faces than the artist intended. To solve the puzzle, we have to pick the most convincing one. I can only assume that this develops skills that will increase our enjoyment of blobsquatch photos, miraculous images of Biblical personalities, Shaver rocks, huge sculptures on Mars, and other works of art.
Dolmens, in the time of the Celts, were the altars where the Druids officiated. Find the Druid?
Seek and you shall find! I hear the Genie of the forest menacing me. I am afraid! Where is he? For, without seeing him, I don’t know which way to run.
Seek and you shall find! Where are the six comedians?
(Posted by Doug Skinner)
5 responses so far ↓
1 Angela // Dec 12, 2011 at 3:48 pm
now that you’ve shown me where the druid is… he pops right out. these are fantastic!
2 Doug // Dec 13, 2011 at 1:23 am
Sometimes you have to turn them upside down.
3 Bill Ectric // Mar 12, 2013 at 1:00 pm
Very cool! Speaking of Shaver, do you know if there is an ongoing exhibit of Shaver’s art anywhere?
4 Doug // Mar 12, 2013 at 1:17 pm
Well, Brian Tucker sometimes mounts Shaver shows in L.A. Rich Toronto has a Shaver site at shavertron.com. And I’ve posted a couple of pieces on this site, including the Shaver painting that I own. Otherwise, the best source for Shaver’s art is still probably “The Secret World,” a 1975 book by Shaver and Ray Palmer; I’m sure there are copies out there.
5 Bill Ectric // Mar 18, 2013 at 9:06 pm
Thanks, Doug. I got in touch with Brian Tucker through Richard Toronto. I’m going to check out your other posts now.