Rorschach images found on the sidewalk!

What is a Rorschach image? It was an image created by dropping some ink on a page of paper and folding the paper over to get a mirror image of the inkblot. The images were then shown to people who were asked to describe what they were seeing in the somewhat-abstract images. Psychologists would note the person's interpretation of these ambiguous designs to assess their imagination and perception. The image at right is one of the ten "official" Rorschach images that make up the "Rorschach test," created by Hermann Rorschach in 1921.



We're not going to get into too many details with the Rorschach Test right now, (you can read more here) but wanted to get on to our own Artsology Rorschach images, which you'll see below. They may not be technically be considered "Rorschach" style since they're not mirror images, but we think that they're ambiguous but suggestive of other things at the same time ... we want to know what you're seeing in these images?

Tell us what you see in each one, and we'll publish the most-interesting descriptions. If you would like to know how these images were created, please scroll down to the bottom for our explanation.

Water Rorschach #1 - what do you see?

Water Rorschach #2 - what do you see?

Water Rorschach #3 - what do you see?

Water Rorschach #4 - what do you see?

Water Rorschach #5 - what do you see?

Water Rorschach #6 - what do you see?

Water Rorschach #7 - what do you see?

Water Rorschach #8 - what do you see?

Here's the explanation of how these "Rorschach" images were created - they are simply the result of sunshine melting snow and ice! Artsology is based in a neighborhood which has a lot of stone slate sidewalks, and the slate surface is smooth and not porous like concrete, so the water doesn't soak in. As the snow and ice melted, it made these patterns by simple gravity and movement of melting water, and we just came along and photographed them!