2026 Vision: Integrating Pareidolia into Large-Scale Plywood Art
I brought in the new year by doing exactly what I love: losing myself in a 4×5′ abstract commission. This piece began not with a sketch, but with the wood itself. I’ve always been drawn to the natural grain of plywood, and for this project, I used it as my roadmap.
Seeing Shapes in Wood: the process of Pareidolia
By applying primer to “block out” the negative space, I allowed the most compelling sections of the raw grain to lead the composition. This process is rooted in pareidolia—the human tendency to see significant patterns or recognizable images in random shapes. Where others see knots in wood, I see life. In this specific grain, a whale, a porpoise, and various faces emerged.
Process and Materials: Using Nova Color Acrylics
• Media: Nova Color Acrylics on 4×5’ Plywood.
• Method: Primed negative space, intuition-led color blocking, and Matte Medium to seal and preserve the raw wood textures.
• Palette: Earth tones and sunset hues chosen to complement the deep brown of the natural timber.
