Missouri-based artist Melissa McCracken paints music. As a synesthete, the sounds that she hears every day—whether it’s someone’s name or a song on the radio—are translated into vibrant, beautiful colors that carry the cadence of melodies. McCracken’s vivid paintings stem from her desire to capture her daily experiences so that others can understand the brilliant, saturated world she inhabits.

Until the age of 15, McCracken thought that everyone lived in the same hue-rich, dynamic realm of color that she’s known since birth. “Basically, my brain is cross-wired,” she explains regarding her synesthesia. “I experience the ‘wrong’ sensation to certain stimuli. Each letter and number are colored and the days of the year circle around my body as if they had a set point in space. But the most wonderful ‘brain malfunction’ of all is seeing the music I hear. It flows in a mixture of hues, textures, and movements, shifting as if it were a vital and intentional element of each song.”

Her oil and acrylic paintings express snippets of the dizzyingly spectacular sights she sees and hears each day. Inspired by certain songs, the works of art burst with texture and splashes of polychrome delight. To get a better sense of what the artist experienced as she created each painting, click the song title beneath each image to listen to the music that inspired such gorgeous works.

Find out more about Synesthesia

To learn more about Melissa, to purchase something or to see more of her work, follow any of the links below:

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | ETSY STORE | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER

©2015, All Rights Reserved, Melissa McCracken

 

Life On Mars? 2014 oil on paper 7.5" x 9.5" http://youtu.be/ueUOTImKp0k
Life On Mars 2014
oil on paper
7.5″ x 9.5″
http://youtu.be/ueUOTImKp0k
Flip 2015 24" x 24" oil & acrylic on canvas http://youtu.be/VFuSoPbg2tI
Flip 2015
24″ x 24″
oil & acrylic on canvas
http://youtu.be/VFuSoPbg2tI
Tonight, Tonight 2014 oil on canvas 18" X 18" http://youtu.be/NOG3eus4ZSo
Tonight, Tonight 2014
oil on canvas
18″ X 18″
http://youtu.be/NOG3eus4ZSo
Callow 2015 8" x 10" acrylic on canvas http://youtu.be/O0A_76pg9Ds
Callow
2015
8″ x 10″
acrylic on canvas
http://youtu.be/O0A_76pg9Ds
Carbon 2014 oil and acrylic on canvas 12" x 12" This particular piece was done on commission as album artwork with Collin Russell's project entitled Carbon. To view his page, click herehttp://www.collinrussellmusic.com/
Carbon 2014
oil and acrylic on canvas
12″ x 12″
This particular piece was done on commission as album artwork with Collin Russell’s project entitled Carbon.
To view his page, click here  http://www.collinrussellmusic.com/
Joy In Repetition 2014 oil and acrylic on canvas 12" x 12
Joy In Repetition
2014
oil and acrylic on canvas
12″ x 12
Karma Police 2015 11" x 14" http://youtu.be/1uYWYWPc9HU
Karma Police 2015
11″ x 14″
http://youtu.be/1uYWYWPc9HU
Unluck 2014 acrylic on canvas 8" X 8" http://youtu.be/qlF9l32hTV4
Unluck 2014
acrylic on canvas 8″ X 8″
http://youtu.be/qlF9l32hTV4