by Angela Brooks
albrooks@mpsomaha.org

Grade Level: 7

Content Area: Art

• Students will become familiar with the Op art movement.
• Students will become familiar with the artists Bridget Riley, Victor Vasarely, and MC Escher.
• Students will learn about the principle of contrast and how it can be used to create optical illusions.
• Students will brainstorm and create their own Op art design using Sketchy as well as paper and markers.

Procedures

1. Beam Illusion 4 to everyone.
2. Have students take time to look at the optical illusions in Illusion 4.
3. Discuss optical illusions and the Op art movement.
4. Using sites obtained by using FlingIt, beam the Op art web site to everyone.
   www.artcyclopedia.com/history/optical.html
   
5. Give students time to read through the article. Follow this up with a discussion of what elements and principles are used to create optical illusions in art.
6. Introduce the artists Bridget Riley, Victor Vasarely, and MC Escher and the ways in which they create optical illusions in their own artwork. Look at and discuss examples of each artist’s works.
7. Divide students into 3 groups and assign each group one of the previously discussed artists.
8. Beam each group the FlingIt version of their artist’s bio.
   

   Bridget Riley:
   www.articons.co.uk/riley.htm?PHPSESSID=
   or
   http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/riley/
   Victor Vasarely:
   http://www.fondationvasarely.com/bio/bio_english.htm
   MC Escher:
   http://users.erols.com/ziring/escher_bio.htm

9. After each group finishes reading their article, have them create a concept map (using the PicoMap application) on what they have learned about that artist.
10. Have each group share their concept map with the class.
11. Discuss the principle of Contrast and how this art principle can be used to create optical illusion designs.
12. Show examples of student work and demonstrate step-by-step how to create an Op art design.
    For step by step directions and an example of a completed work visit:
    www.esu3.org/districts/millard/millart/graphics/exhibit_g.html#g2
13. Have students brainstorm their own design ideas.
14. Have students create a Sketchy demonstrating step-by-step how to create their design idea.
15. Have students create their Op art design on white paper using black marker in order to create contrast.