Why Do These Parallel Lines Seem to Converge? A Fun Visual Puzzle

Just an optical illillusion

Have you ever looked at a pattern and felt like your eyes are playing tricks on you? That’s exactly what’s happening with the image above! The vertical blue lines are straight and parallel, but they seem to converge or bend inward as your eyes wander across the design. Let’s break this optical illusion down in simple terms and explore why it feels so magicalperfect for an interactive adventure!

The Illusion at Play

Imagine you’re an artist sketching a cityscape. You draw parallel lines for buildings, but as they stretch into the distance, you add a little perspective, making them appear to meet at a vanishing point on the horizon. That’s a classic technique called linear perspective, and your brain loves to apply it even when it doesn’t belong! In this image, the black and white diamonds crisscrossing the blue lines create a busy, rhythmic pattern. This visual rhythm tricks your brain into thinking the lines are shifting, like they’re dancing toward a secret meeting point.

Why Does This Happen?

Your eyes and brain are a dynamic duo, always trying to make sense of the world. When you see those diamond shapes, your brain interprets them as depth cues—like shadows or textures in a 3D painting. This is called the Ponzo illusion in action: when parallel lines are framed by converging shapes, your mind assumes the lines are getting closer together, even though they’re not. It’s like looking down a railroad track where the rails seem to join in the distance, but in reality, they stay the same distance apart!

Test It Out!

Ready for some fun? Grab a ruler or a straight edge (or just use your finger!) and place it along one of those blue lines. If you follow it from top to bottom, it will stay straight.

You can now shift your focus to the diamonds. They make the line appear to bend. You can even try looking from different angles. You’ll notice that your perception relies on the composition of the whole picture rather than just the lines themselves.

Here is the Artistic Twist

Artists have been using this trick for centuries to add drama and movement to their artworks. Think of it like a swirling abstract composition where the shapes guide your eye in seemingly unexpected ways. In the case of our image here, the designer turned a simple grid into a mind- piece through layering patterns. It’s more like a visual symphony where each element plays its part to create the sense of motion and depth we are observing, which becomes a simple illusion.

The Takeaway

Therefore, the vertical blue lines are not converging at all. They are perfectly parallel. What you see is a clever optical prank. The natural love for perspective and depth by your brain is what makes this image as you see it.

Discovering the Best Spots for Unique Art Materials in Kenya

HIMI Gouache Paints SetHIMI Gouache Paints Set: Amazon

Have you been looking for genuine leads to get quality, unique art supplies in Kenya? Look no further as there are now many local market and online platforms offering a variety of options to boost your creativity. In this article, we compare some of the most popular Kenyan e-commerce sites including Jumia, Kilimall, Jiji, Textbook Center, and Bristles Arts. We look at delivery options, user-friendliness, pricing, payment methods, and the risk of scams.

Jumia Kenya: A Reliable Art Haven

Jumia offer a wide range of drawing and painting materials including quality acrylic paints, paintbrushes, sketchbooks, and canvases, among others. Despite sourcing from a wide range of independent suppliers, their delivery is fast, often within 2-5 days. I live outside Nairobi and they’ve mostly delivered my orders in less than 48 hours.

They offer multiple payment options. They have options for cash on delivery, mobile money like M-Pesa, and credit card options, which is super convenient. Their pricing is competitive; sometimes you can take advantage of their frequent discounts and offers. But you need to be timely on this. Some users complain of occasional stock issues, but that’s attributed to demand. Anyway, they clarify when items are out of stock so you don’t spend your money on non-deliverable items.

There is no risk of scams. They refund your money within a week if your complaint is genuine and covered by their return/refund policies.

Personally, I love how easy it is to use their site, their variety of local and international brands, and customer support.

Kilimall Kenya: Budget-Friendly but Basic

Kilimall is another excellent option for both quality and budget-conscious artists. You can find all basic art supplies including colored pencils, paper, and affordable paint sets, pretty much like Jumia and they also deliver within 3-5 days. The slight delay may be attributed to use of a third party for delivery, G4S Security. Prices differ slightly than Jumia’s, but for a basket of products, it can be difficult to establish which one is cheaper.

They are cheaper than Jumia in deliver fees but items change hands from the independent suppliers, Kilimall, and G4S. This could explain why some online reviews mention delays or items arriving damaged. These case are significantly rare and the best part is that no scams. You can always seek refund but you’d need to follow a strict return policy.

Jiji Kenya: Local Deals with Caution

Jiji is another great platform if you are looking for unique but locally sourced art materials from individual sellers. You need to do a background research about the seller though. Due to cases of scams and other risks associated with having to meet seller in person, the site cautions users about paying before delivery. They do not take responsibility for what happens between the buyer and seller.

I have made successful deals on the site but I can say that until the deal is sealed, you should always remain cautious. Most of the users are trustworthy though but for a site that does not control how users interact, caution is never a choice at Jiji. You can get the best deals, cheap and quality products, better than anywhere else in the country if you are keen enough.

Text Book Centre

I have shopped at Text Book Centre multiple times, for art material and books, and I can attest that it’s a shopping experiences worth spending your time on. You can visit either or both their online and physical shops. They are strategically located in Nairobi CBD and other outlets in major shopping malls.

I’ve never tried their online shop yet, it offers the opportunity to search for their products online before deciding to pay a visit to their outlets. It can be a wise move to save your shopping time.

Text Book Centre deal in quality pencils, paints, and canvases with reliable delivery across the country. They also offer easy online payment options. Prices are generally good though comparatively higher but their products offer guaranteed quality and the risk of loss is minimal. Besides, you get the chance to select products directly from their outlets. These explain why they have such excellent reviews although their high level of professionalism contributes a lot.

Bristles Arts

Bristles Arts focus on premium supplies like watercolor paper and artist-grade brushes. They are just as professional as Textbook Center but they are specific to art products and offer free shipping in Nairobi. Although relatively pricier, the quality of their products is top-notch. Most importantly, they offer expert advice.

My Verdict

I consider Bristles Arts to be the ultimate choice for professional artists who are focused on taking their career to great heights. Jumia strike the best balance for Kenyan artists as it’s affordable and convenient, with the opportunity for new and upcoming artists to get access to new material and tools. Kilimall is mostly like Jumia with mostly similar offerings. Jiji are good for budget buys and local finds, but you will have to watch out for risks.

What’s your experience?

A Journey Through the Evolution of Movies

It all started with a flicker, a dance of light and shadow that hinted at something extraordinary. In the dimly lit parlors of the 19th century, people gathered around curious devices like the zoetrope. These early machines spun sequences of images in rapid succession, creating the illusion that static pictures could move. It was a simple magic, but it hinted at something more—a dream that one day we might capture life itself.

Then, in 1891: kinetoscope—a peep-show machine that allowed a single viewer to watch a short film. Around the same time, across the ocean in France, two brothers were working on something even more revolutionary. Cinématographe was a device that didn’t just record motion but projected it. And with that, cinema was born. The first audience was stunned. The two brothers' short films, like the famous "Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station,". It was as if reality had been captured and brought to life before their eyes. People shouted, laughed, and cheered. The magic of movies had arrived.

The magic of cinema spread like wildfire. Flickering images were lighting up screens all over the world, though they were silent, relying on expressive gestures, exaggerated emotions, and live orchestras to tell their stories. This was the era of the silent film, where stars like Charlie Chaplin captivated audiences with their physical comedy and poignant tales. Chaplin's "The Tramp," with his bowler hat and cane, became a symbol of the silent era—universally beloved, speaking directly to the heart without ever uttering a word. The world laughed with him, cried with him, and saw their life struggles and hopes reflected in his gestures.

Just as audiences had grown accustomed to the world of silent films, a new sensation shook the industry. Al Jolson, a young singer, stepped up to a microphone in "The Jazz Singer," and the world listened in awe as he spoke and sang. The era of the talkies had begun. Now the magic of cinema had a voice. The silent era faded like a dream, and a new reality took its place.

Just like sound revolutionized the industry, color so too did color. Early efforts to add hues involved painting each frame mannually. Technicolor emerged later as a vibrant and reliable process.

In the early day, people went to the cinemas to escape reality, and to dream, and to experience stories bigger than life itself. Movies were becoming an integral part of their life. They were more like a mirror. A fantasy with a shared experience, and people came together for distinct reasons in darkened theaters with a moving being the common factor.

In the latter days of the 20th century, the digital revolution transformed all aspects of filmmaking. Computer-generated imagery emerged. They became the new frontier. Filmmakers could now create entire unimaginable worlds and creatures. This thrilled audiences. Their imaginations were sparked by the new endless possibilities in an imaginary world.

When the internet emerged, it changed everything. People were no longer confined to theaters. They could now stream films directly from any location. That’s where we are today.

We can only imagine where artificial intelligence will take us in a few days to come.