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OP-ART
• Op-Art is comprised of illusion, and often appears to the human eye - to be moving or breathing due to
its precise, mathematically-based composition.
• In October of 1964, in an article describing this new
style of art, Time Magazine coined the phrase
"Optical Art“ or Op-Art as it is more commonly
known.
• Op-Art exists to fool the eye. Op compositions create
a sort of visual tension, in the viewer's mind, that
gives works the illusion of movement.
Try looking at the picture without blinking or moving at all. It does not work very well or at all. The moving and
blinking is what makes them optical illusions.
• Although the term Op-Art was coined in the
1960’s, most people who've studied these
things agree that Victor Vasarely pioneered
the movement with his 1938 painting Zebra.
• Bridget Riley is another noteworthy artist who
has created op-art from its beginning to the
present day.
• Bridget Riley's paintings came to International
notice when she exhibited along with Victor
Vasarely and others in the Museum of Modern
Art in New York at an exhibition called “The
Responsive Eye” in 1965.
• "The Responsive Eye" was a huge hit with the
public but proved to be less popular with the
critics, who dismissed the works as trompe l'oeil
(which means, 'tricks of the eye').
• Bridget Riley's major paintings are very large and
may take six to nine months to develop. She first
creates small studies of patterns and color.
• Successful studies lead to a full size paper which
leads to the final work. These are then enlarged,
ruled up, under-painted with acrylic and overpainted in oils. Everything is painted by hand - no
rulers, masking tape or mechanical means are used
when actually applying the paints. Riley has worked
with assistants since the 1960s because of the large
scale and the need for great precision.
Examples of Bridget Riley’s work:
It's also worth mentioning that, in the digital age, Op Art
is often not taken seriously. People often comment: "A
child with the proper graphic design software could
produce this stuff." This is quite true, of a gifted child,
with a computer and the proper software at his or her
disposal, in the 21st century.
This certainly wasn't the case in the early 1960s, and the
1938 date of Vasarely's Zebra speaks for itself in this
regard. Op Art represents a great deal of math, planning
and technical skill, as none of it came freshly-inked out
of a computer printer. Original, hand-created Op Art
deserves respect, at the very least.
What do you think about Op-Art?
1. Does the use of computers make Op-Art less
valuable or impressive? Why?
2. Would you prefer to draw the designs by hand
using rulers and other measuring tools?
OR
Would you prefer to use a computer program
to design the art? Why?
3. Write at least 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage
for both drawing the illusions by hand and
creating the illusions with a computer
program.
YOUR PROJECT:
• You will be creating your own Op-Art Box!
• Using the instructional packets, you will create
6 different designs, each one to be one side of
your box. Unlike Bridget Riley, you will be
allowed to (and I insist) use a ruler & compass
for the circles. 
Let’s Complete the first design together….
1. In the box at the top of your paper, draw an X.
Make sure your lines are drawn so that they
cross through each corner.
2. Line your ruler up with the first ½” mark and
draw a line inside each triangle section.
4. Repeat this using the 1” marks so that
you have created a smaller square inside.
5. Using your pencil, LIGHTLY draw an X in the shapes
that will be colored in. Two colored areas will never
touch each other.
This is what your square would
look like colored in…however,
DO NOT COLOR YET!!
6. Now, we are going to add circles. You can place the
circles any where you want. Please have at least 3 and
use various sizes.
7. The circles are going to create the optical illusion. They should
be marked with an X wherever they are touching a white shape.
They should be left white wherever they are touching a dark
area. Do not mark in the areas that are to be left white.
This is what your design
would look like colored in.
Do not color anything yet!
• Use your packet (and partner) to help you
draw the 5 other Op-Art designs.
• You must have 6 different designs on your box.
You may combine elements from different
designs to create your own if you wish.
• I will be taking progress grades throughout the
length of this project, so make sure that you
are working consistently every day!
• Take your time and be NEAT! Craftsmanship
will be 40% of your final grade!!
• Once all six of your designs are finished and
colored, you will cut your box template out and
assemble it using a glue stick on the tabs. I will
demonstrate this when the time comes.
Remember!
Take your time and be
NEAT!