Hearing Color With Melissa McCraken

Whether a person listens to music on Spotify,

YouTube, or any other platform, we all listen to

music for pleasure. Music comes in many forms such as different genres, or even types

of music (example: instrumental). But did you know that some people have the ability to

see music through color?

This ability is actually called Chromesthesia. Chromesthesia is an example of

synesthesia where music or a sound evokes an experience of color. The experience

could range differently for every person who has an association with color to sound. In

fact, some people picture different shapes as well. Around 5-15% of people experience

some form of synesthesia.

Artist Melissa McCraken is able to take an artistic approach to

chromesthesia. This painting called “Little Wing” was inspired

by Jimi Hendrix song, “Little Wing”. As she said in an interview,

the electric guitar always had a gold effect in a blue-ish, pink,

purple cloudy area. She views chromesthesia as positive,

especially since she, herself, is an artist.

In this painting, Melissa McCraken bases it off the song

“Imagine” by John Lennon. Similar concepts like the Little

Wing painting, both follow a cloudy space. Melissa

McCraken reimburses on the fact that the chords have a

marble effect with blues, and golds.

Source + Photo:

https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2019/06/05/painting-colors-music-chromesthesia