THE EYES HAVE IT!
Ken Klopak
The seventh- and eighth-grade students
in my art program sharpened up their
eyesight and their use of color charts in
preparation for an op art project. Op art
is short for “optical patterns and designs.” The
goal of the project is to create and organize line
and color into shapes, patterns, and design in
symmetrical and asymmetrical configurations
that affect eye perception.
Information
about symmetry,
color relationships, positive and
negative space, and
repetitive designs was presented and discussed
before any hands-on work was started. Samples
by artists such as Victor Vasarely, M.C. Escher,
and Bridget Riley were shown and discussed.
After the information, samples, and materials
were presented, questions and comments were
discussed.
Working in Black and White
To help students “warm up,” our first design
used only black and white to create optical
effects. Students
were shown an
easy-step process
to create shapes on
squares of white
paper. Folding the
paper diagonally and
into smaller squares created intersecting folds.
This was a quick way for the students to envision shapes on the paper that might trigger more
The goal of the project is to create and
organize line and color into shapes, patterns,
and design in symmetrical and asymmetrical
configurations that affect eye perception.
