This application of Precognition allows those possessing it to paint, sketch, or draw the past, present, and future after they have had a premonition or during its happenings. Some may be able to depict all three, while others may be only able to depict one of them. These precognitive dreamers are often not aware of what they are during, but experienced possessors of this ability can choose to selectively enter the state in which their powers function. Once they enter this state however, they cannot exit it until the drawing, painting, or sketching is completed. The trance that they enter is what allows them to view the future, and they see that image fixated on what they are to be drawing, etc on, they then paint and draw everything that this mentally appearing on the paper or surface. This ability also supplements the users artistic ability, even if outside of their visions of an event they have no artistic ability, they are perfect artists while utilizing this ability. The records that they create using their powers are often times prophetic, making the actual interpretations difficult to understand at some points.
Known Evolved Humans[]
- Isaac Mendez naturally possessed this ability
- Byron Bevington naturally possesses this ability
- Usutu naturally possessed this ability
- Peter Petrelli duplicated this ability
- Gabriel Gray duplicated this ability
- Arthur Petrelli stole this ability
Potential[]
While other forms of precognition depend on the user remembering things in order to utilize the newly gained knowledge, precognitive painting gives the precog a record of what they have seen. Actually, precogs of this sort hardly ever remember what they have experienced in their visions, so their paintings are their only clue to what they have seen. However, if they are talented enough they can utilize these tools to remember what it was that they experienced.
Limits[]
Isaac Mendez[]
Isaac always made prophecies in the form of paintings or drawings.
When painting a prophetic image, Isaac entered a trance-like state and his eyes became completely white. He was largely unaware of his surroundings in this state. (He did not enter such a trance when making prophetic sketches.)
Isaac was able to depict the past, the present, and the future. The 9th Wonders! graphic novel that Isaac created (namely, Issue #14) contains events from both the present and future timelines. Additionally, at least one of his series of eight paintings depicts a scene from 1671.
Isaac was initially able to make prophetic images only under the influence of heroin. However after sufficient determination, he overcame this limitation.
After practice, Isaac could focus his precognitive powers. He made numerous paintings in an effort to locate Peter Petrelli, but he did not realize that all of them were accurate until he realized that Peter was invisible in them.
It is not known if all the works Isaac created were prophetic or not.
It seems that Isaac could only know the future by painting it because he had to look at the finished work. Peter seems not to make any mention of what he saw in the future, so painting the future is the only way to "record" what one sees.
The events depicted in prophetic images are not completely inevitable. Isaac painted a mural depicting the the explosion happening at ground level, and he and Peter later created several images depicting the destruction it caused. Thanks to the actions of several characters, the explosion occurred at a very high altitude, where it apparently did no damage to the city.
Usutu[]
Usutu has painted numerous images of Matthew Parkman on rocks around his home. Usutu somehow knows when events have changed to invalidate one of his precognitive paintings; and he painted over one such obsolete image with a new image.
Usutu has the ability to place others in a precognitive trance. They must be willing, and Usutu must give them something from a bowl as a trigger. He used music to enhance Matt's dream state but it proved unnecessary for Hiro.
Peter Petrelli[]
Peter looks at a blank canvas and is able to see flashes of a painting from a distance. Once in front of the canvas, he appears to be locked into the precognitive trance until he finishes.
Gabriel Gray[]
It is unknown if painting is the only way for Sylar to manifest this power, as Sylar was shown receiving quick flashes of the future after killing Isaac in his loft. Sylar lost this power to the Shanti Virus and didn't gain it back once he was cured.
Arthur Petrelli[]
Arthur uses this ability to draw a picture of the eclipse and many other prophetic drawings, such as Claire in Noah's arms, and Sylar and Elle embracing