Do we really get what we see? Or must we learn to see past what we see?
In the The Art Spirit, artist/author/philosopher/teacher Robert Henri, wrote :
We have strange ways of seeing. If only we knew — then we could tell. If we knew what we saw, then we could paint it.
It’s true not just for artists who paint stories with brushes or pens, or for writers who tell those stories with their words.
It’s also true as we look at and interact with each other. Friends, old and new, and those we are just meeting, casually or professionally. Is what we see really what we get? And do we get what it is we’re seeing?
If only we knew, then we could tell…………
I entered this painting-from-a-photo, done in Corel’s Painter X, in a contest at Digital Painting Forum a couple years ago. Contestants were given a choice of photos to use as reference, and I took this one after spending some time looking and wondering what this young woman saw…
Was she turning into something or away from it? Was that uncertainty or determination in her face? Fear or anticipation? Or all of that? 
In the photo she’s dressed in what could be an after-five-meet-for-drinks basic sheath, but she looks hesitant to me. As if maybe she were meeting a group of new friends or coworkers. Stepping outside her comfort space.
I painted her at the edge of the party, determined to be there, to mix and meet and fit in. Anticipating yet a little uncertain. But I also painted her alternative choice to stay casual and relax and just “hang out” with her closest buddies.
Other contestants saw other stories, other personalities. And who is to know really? (I didn’t win this one. 
)
We only have the book’s cover — not enough to tell us all we need to know about her. The other party guests will have to take it from here.
What can they expect? What is there to like or learn by getting to know her? Can they discern integrity and trust, intelligence, talent, even her entry level into the company, by her appearance? Does a quick glance tell us the whole story?
We have strange ways of seeing. If only we knew, then we could tell……………………….
I think how often I snap to a judgment based on first glances. I’m just imagining after all… and when I do imagine, I must remember it IS my imagining, not who they may actually be.
What do you think? Can you separate your visual judgments from who a person actually might be?
Just like all the artist contestants who saw something different in this photo, I enjoy the variety of stories you all add in your comments here. I value them all.
Barb
P.S. Please treat yourself to a wonderful way of Seeing Things…
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I think snap judgments are mostly pattern matching against experience.
Sometimes it picks up on good clues, other times, it leads us astray.
I think it’s particularly interesting because of the Pygmalion effect – you get what you expect.
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Over the years, I try very hard to not let snap judgments influence how I treat people. There are so many different people, dressed differently, different colors, different genders, different cultures, and so on.
If I let my first impression be the judge, I wouldn’t know half of the people I do now.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found it easier to do this. I’m not sure why, but it just is.
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How perfect that your blog coincides with the one Sliloh wrote regarding all the jumping to conclusions about Susan Boyle before she opened her mouth to sing like an angel on Britain’s Got Talent. Karol
I find age gives me time and new vision/perspective. I enjoyed your impressions of the photograph and the young girl; I too thought hesitant when I saw it.
I seem to ease into perceptions now, but then I do not need to make quick decisions as when my children were young and I was protective.
I like the risk taking of my older self
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I love to people watch, so I am always creating impressions, stories about people I see and will never get to know. Of course I know these snapshots are probably quite wacky even though I am guided by my unsuspecting subjects’ manner and dress.
However, when I meet people, I suppress snap judgments. Most of the time I begin positively and need to be proven wrong before changing my perception.
I like your analysis of the girl in the picture. I think your painting softens the apprehension I see in the original photo to hesitant expectation.
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I think there is nothing like being judged wrongly a few times yourself to make you very sensitive to not doing the same to others
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Hi Barb. I see vulnerability and yes, hesitation. It is a lovely photo and you’ve done a great job capturing it in your painting. I’m pretty good at seeing the person beyond my visual perception. However, my visual perception still serves as my unique connection to that individual. The first imprint so to speak.
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How we feel at the moment may also play a part in our perceptions of what we are viewing. I know that at different times viewing the same painting or photograph can cause vastly different ideas and feelings to pop into my mind. Same goes for listening to songs too.
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