It seems to me that in Nature, poisonous creatures are often brightly, and/or intricately patterned, as if to say, "If you're silly enough to come any closer, you're in for it!" Soft muted browns and subtle patterns, like those of bunnies and partridges, tend to be found in the quieter species.

Spikes and sharp pointy shapes are indicative of danger and we have incorporated this into our visual interpretations. Soft rounded forms are often friendly.

Nature produces patterns in the waves of water or fields during storms, that when echoed by an artist in ragged, jagged slashes in a painting, are correspondingly understood by the viewer. Contrary to that, Nature's most delicate blossoms are like the artist's lightest, most gentle touches.

Because we are capable of the extreme passions found in Nature herself, we are taught how to portray these feelings by studying her. It follows that we are also taught how to look at art by becoming familiar with Nature.

Shapes or patterns are the most fundamental aspects for communicating feeling in art and are inseparably linked to brushwork, drawing, and the use of symbols