Lesson 29: Optical Illusion

Objective: To have children create an optical illusion with rhythm and variety using lines.

Vocabulary:

Op Art - A kind of art that includes optical illusions.

optical illusion - In two-dimensional art, effects that trick the viewer into seeing something that is not there.

Fission by Bridget Riley1963, tempera on composition board35" x 34"The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, USA

Op Art

In the 1950's and 1960's, a group of artists created abstract paintings designed to "fool the eye." They used techniques such as linear perspective to create optical illusions, or false appearances, in their paintings. The new kind of art was called Op Art.
When linear perspective is used in a realistic painting, converging lines create the illusion of depth in a scene. In abstract paintings, converging lines create a sense of depth on the surface of the painting itself. Look at the Op Art painting Fission by Bridget Riley. Point to the place where the surface seems to bend away from you. Notice how the rows of dots converge, or get closer together, in the middle. How did the artist also use proportion to create this optical illusion?

Vega 200 by Victor Vasarely1968, acrylic on canvas200 cm x 200 cm

In Vega 200 by Victor Vasarely the surface of the painting seems to bulge outward in the shape of a sphere. Notice the size of the center circle. Compare it to other circles in the same row. As the circles get smaller in proportion to each other, the sides of the sphere seem to move into the distance. How do artists use proportion to create a sense of distance in realistic paintings?
Where did the artist of Vega 200 create rhythm with equal-size circles? Where did he begin to vary the size of the circles?

Paradoxe sur le Comedien by Frank Stella1974, synthetic polymer paint on canvas142" x 284"Collection of the artist

Look at the design on the left side of Paradoxe sur le Comedien by Frank Stella. What part of the design seems closer to you, the center or the outer edge? Notice the amount of contrast, or difference, between the black and white lines in the design. Contrast creates emphasis. It makes the outer edge seem closer to the viewer.
Now look at the right side of Paradoxe sur le Comedien. The black and white lines make the center of the design seem closer to the viewer, and the sides seem farther away.

Think Critically - Tell what you learned.

Studio Time: Optical Illision

Materials:

White Paper, Pencils, Rulers, Colored Markers

Plan

Think of a way you can use lines of various sizes to create a design that contains an optical illusion.
Check list:
- Create a Op Art drawing with rhythm and variety.
- Use an linear perspective to create to illusion of depth.
- Use different colors to create variety.

Create

Use a pencil and ruler to draw parallel lines across your paper. At the top and bottom of the page, draw thick lines of equal width. Leave equal-sized spaces between them.
Moving toward the center of the page draw gradually thinner lines with smaller spaces between them. The surface of your paper will appear to dip in the center.

3. Use colored marker to darken and fill in your lines.

Reflect - Tell about your artwork.

Photograph and Submit your artwork on Google Classroom.

Photograph sketches as well as completed artwork.
"Add" (attach) to Google Classroom assignment.
"Mark as done" to submit your work for a grade.

Challenge: Op-Art Circular Design

Create a radial design in the Op-Art style using geometric shapes using lighter/brighter colors in the foreground and darker/duller colors in the background.

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