Painting a Song | Melissa McCracken | TEDxLafayetteCollege

What if you could see music in vivid color? Artist Melissa McCracken explains what it’s like to visualize music as a flow of textures and hues. Through a neurological phenomenon called synesthesia, Melissa uses her unique sensory cross-wiring to paint her favorite songs.
Melissa McCracken is synesthetic artist. In her late teens, she discovered she had a rare neurological condition called synesthesia, allowing her to virtually see music as a mix of hues and textures. After graduating from William Jewell College in 2013 with a degree in Psychology, Melissa utilized her condition to create dynamic and interactive works of art. Combining her love of both music and visual aesthetics, Melissa allows the audience to take a look at the world through the eyes of a synesthete. Melissa has been featured in Oprah Magazine, MTV News, CNN’s Great Big Story, and Andy Warhol’s Interview Magazine.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@shortycareface9678]

I have always experienced music as something visual, in the same way as this, and until recently I thought everybody else experienced something similar as well. Interesting is it, that when I discovered this to be synesthesia, I mentioned it to a friend, and she instantly went "What? Doesn't everybody experience music like that?" So we went and asked some of our other friends, and figured, no, they don't. . . I am honestly still somewhat mind blown due to it.

[@andreefloresmartinez2197]

Ive just discovered that im synesthetic at 26, i thought everyone could see the music. When i saw her paintings i was like.. THATS HOW I SEE A SONG

[@alejandromoreno5056]

paintings looks like galaxies!!!!!

[@zehraaytekin2990]

14:00 omg it's very very beatiful

[@P0GFLIPPER]

I have a mild version of this, it's not always predominant every time I hear sounds. I feel it more when I'm relaxing my thoughts, like when I'm zoning out, it becomes a lot clearer but still dream like I can't just turn it on. Interesting to see how people's pallets are different, for instance, the letter 'A' is 'red' for me hers is blue, although I see colour in a few things like letters it's more in sound to me, and it's hard to pin point an array of colours I feel more blanket colours, indigo/purple is my fav music. I'm also aware it's not just the notes that have colour a big part of it for me is the tonality of the sound.

[@zestamore]

I don’t have all of that but for the days of the week I always think of it like a straight line with Saturday and Sunday being on the side and it goes back around in a circle lol

[@Trashstsr]

"somethings wrong with him he doesn't see colors"

[@joh3688]

Her paintings are beautiful, great taste in music too hahahaha

[@r_aguilar68]

Her artwork is amazing. Check out her website. My favorite painting of hers is the one called "Ghosts."

[@viktorsjogren]

I need these paintings.

[@LonnieMeetWorld]

I have sound/music to color synesthesia as well, and sound/music to color synesthesia is called Chromesthesia.

[@Susmitha0369]

Hi I hope this artist will read what I am writing now. Actually sound has both colours and patrons. I am from india and if you see our 1000's of years old hindu temples , on the sealing there are certain flower like different patrons which were the divine mantras of the gods and goddess. When there was no script the sounds were communicated through pictures. And the ancient sanskrit language is based on these patrons . For example in sanskrit dog is called "sunakaha" and on repetition of this sound a dog like figure is formed. This was recently found with the help of a device.

[@t87871]

Finally figured out what it’s called, ahhhhhh!

[@haileymiller6411]

Did anyone read a mango shaped space growing up? It’s about a girl with synethsthesia

[@DrChrisAbraham]

Amazing! Thank you

[@PatMeruseye]

Really really beautiful ~

[@kessler_could_not_care]

that's amazing

[@trinitydeval]

Huh. I don’t think it counts but I tend to put movements along with sound, like with a song it’s usually more like a dance but talking gets gestures. Probably just normal stuff but whatever I think it’s cool.

[@plants5743]

They look like sound waves

[@d4nkime]

Came here because of a comment on Anthony Padillas RUclips channel

[@joseph8665]

I wonder if she heard the music at 4:28 Hertz

[@tobiasgibson8609]

I cane here because of the person who likes coffee

[@jackkurasik8371]

Hi Melissa
I am asking You cause You seem to be the best person to answer my question First of all I believe that this ability gives You a lot of joy and satisfaction
I wish more people were aware of it and paid more attention towards their children developement in this regard I know that You have 3 types of synesthesia which is awesome I would like to know about your sound synesthesia When You hear music you can see in your mind various colours dancing around in many shapes When it comes to a single note - what colours do you associate with each chromatic note? I know that many people see different colour for the same note I would like to know what is the range of difference among synesthetes Foor example C is green according to light spectrum but then can it be seen as red which again according to light spectrum is the colour of G?
Can anyone else answer my question?
I will appreciate any comments
Regards Jack

[@ericpadilla16891]

she studied music and sounds?

[@elwitkauesa4148]

🖤💛💜💚💙❤

[@iCat4Ever]

The color of that alphabet was sop wrong

[@UrLocalMelz]

That’s how she experiences it

[@hspconsciousrevealer6291]

YO!! Her last NAME IS MC CRACKIN!!!