Paint isn’t supposed to move. But Vicksburg artist Verdee Thomas is trying to trick the viewer into thinking it does.

“Do you see it? Do you see what I see?” Thomas asks the viewer as the view of his never-quite-still artwork changes like a kaleidoscope.

Perception is at the heart of Thomas’ work, which will be on display at the auditorium of the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library for three days starting next Monday.

He calls the straight, thick white lines drawn on top of his paintings “freeways.” Beneath the lines are paintings or solid color. It took Thomas five years to perfect the balance of white lines versus color so the painting “jumps,” as he says. He calls the whole creation “mood art.”

“You see it jumping this, going that way. It opens up, then it closes back again,” Thomas said.

The visual effect doesn’t work for everyone, Thomas said. “Everybody doesn’t have the same mind for it,” he said.

Thomas said he prayed for years to come up with something no one else had done.

“I wanted something different, something original. One night, I came up with this and I said, ‘Thank you, Jesus,'” Thomas said.

Thomas started making art 15 years ago when his back started hurting and he was forced to retire from his job as a security guard.

Inspired by his high school shop classes, his first works were wood burnings. He pencils a design in wood, then burns it in. For additional effect, he uses a propane torch to darken areas. It’s difficult work, as a small mistake can mean hours of wasted effort.

Thomas eventually started working with mixed media and oil paintings, as well. “Mood art” is his latest passion.

“Right now, I’m trying to perfect these,” Thomas said.

All types of his artwork will be on display during the exhibition, though, he warns, three days is a short time.

“If they want to come, get in the car, hurry up,” Thomas said.