Op Art

Sixth Grade

4 class periods

45 minutes per class

Op Art, Sixth Grade Art Lesson

Day 1:

Student are shown a YouTube video that has a fun introduction to op art, some of the famous artists of op art and many op art examples.  By the time we were done viewing it, some of my students were shaking their heads because their eyes were playing tricks on them.  Learning About Op Art.

After the video, we set to work starting our op art designs on a 12 x 12 inch piece of white drawing paper.  I have students use a circle stencil (Pringle lids work excellent for this) and trace a 3 or 4 circles anywhere they would like on their paper.  Circles may go off the paper, but they should not overlap.

Next, I demonstrate to student how create a checker board on the circle.  We discuss how we want the lines to curve in order to create a sphere look.

Students use a black sharpie marker to create the black and white checker board design in each sphere.  I have students mark lightly with a pencil the areas to color black.

Day 2:

On the second day of this lesson, I begin class with another video that shows numerous examples of op art.  Op Art Example of Victor Vasarely. After the video, using a ruler, I demonstrate to students how to create the cones in the background of the composition.  Students are shown how to create curved lines, so once again we give our cones the look of being three dimensional.

Students are given the choice to color the cones in a complementary color scheme (red/green, blue/orange, or yellow/violet).  We used crayons for this step.  

After the cones are colored, students are given a demo on how to create the highlight using an eraser on the center of the cones and adding some shadow to the edges of cone using a black crayon.  BLEND!  BLEND!

We used an eraser to erase the crayon to create the highlight down the center of the cone.

A black crayons was used not he sides of the cone to create the shadow.

Day 3:

During our third class period, students are shown how to create the wave line in the background of the composition.  They are allowed to use any two markers of their choice to color the spaces between the wavy lines.  Stress craftsmanship!

A wavy line is added to the background, outlined with a black sharpie and colored using 2 markers colors of their choice.

Day 4:  

Use this day for students to catch up on any parts of their composition they still need to complete.

Student Examples: