Painting was everything to Walid, and all day long he thought about colors. He envisioned a whole palette of colors in his mind, named after familiar people and things. There was Sara beige, the color of his friend Sara’s eyes; there was waterfall blue, the color of the waterfall near his house. And there was sock green, the color of his sister’s favorite socks.
But after a while, it seemed as though he had seen everything the color spectrum had to offer. His life became miserable because every color he mixed on his palette looked humdrum and uninspiring.
That was why he signed up for the trip to Mars. There was a rumor that Mars had even more colors than Earth and that there were some colors on Mars never seen by people. The trip on the spaceship would be long, but Walid prepared his mind for something new and spectacular.
When he stepped off the spaceship and walked onto Mars, he blinked. All he could see was red. Walid’s heart sank as he looked out at the red sky and the red land and the red water.
He trudged to the living quarters before deciding to take a walk. Walking through a world of red saddened him, but as he peered ahead, he saw some strange large standing rocks in the distance. Walid jogged to them, and as he got closer to them they began to change colors. The light reflected off the surface of the rocks in dazzling patterns. They were orange, yellow, and—what was that? It was a color he’d never seen before. It wasn’t green and it wasn’t blue—what was it? Walid sat down on a rock and stared ahead. There was a whole world of color in front of him. Walid breathed deep. He was home.
As he sat on the rock, taking in the beauty of the changing colors, Walid realized that Mars was indeed a treasure trove of new hues. The rocks shifted from vibrant oranges to deep purples, and even a hint of silver could be seen as the light hit them at different angles. It was as if a whole new spectrum of colors had been unveiled before his eyes.
Walid's heart swelled with excitement and inspiration. He had found his paradise, a place where he could unlock a whole new dimension of artistry. With each step he took on the red terrain, he noticed how the dust sparkled in a multitude of shades, creating a mesmerizing display of color and light.
As he ventured further into this alien landscape, Walid discovered the true potential of his creativity. He started documenting the colors he saw, capturing them in vivid strokes on his canvas. The palette that once felt dull and uninspiring now brimmed with endless possibilities. Each stroke of his brush brought to life the vibrant ochres, the fiery reds, and the mysterious, unnamed shades that captivated him.
Walid's art became renowned throughout the galaxy. His paintings of Mars dazzled audiences, who marveled at the richness and depth of the colors he captured. The once-vibrant palette of Earth seemed pale in comparison to the myriad of hues he now had at his disposal.
But it wasn't just about the colors. Walid realized that his journey to Mars had taught him something far greater. It taught him to never stop exploring and seeking inspiration. It reminded him that even when life seemed mundane, there was always something new and awe-inspiring waiting to be discovered.
And so, Walid continued to paint, not just the colors of Mars, but the colors of the universe. He traveled to distant planets, each one offering its own unique palette, each one pushing the boundaries of his imagination.
For Walid, painting was still everything. And now, his artistry transcended the boundaries of any single planet. His boundless creativity and insatiable curiosity led him to a universe filled with color, and he would forever be grateful to that red world that showed him the true meaning of inspiration.