Microscope photo of tartaric acid crystals with crystal violet (an organic dye) formed from a supersaturated solution. Crystallization of these substances is very rapid, and it is easy to watch
this live with a microscope. The different colors result from the details of how the crystal violet is embedded in the tartaric acid. This photo tells only part of the story: the process is just as important as the result. This technique combines science and art, showing both the physics of crystallization, and challenging the artist to produce a result by going with the flow of nature.