| p>Optical illusion art, also known as op art, is a | | | | There are three kinds of color interaction: |
| mathematically-based genre that produces optical | | | | - Simultaneous contrast - it occurs when one area of |
| illusions. It uses the repetition of form and color to | | | | color is surrounded by another color to create a |
| create moiré patterns that give rise to | | | | difference in brightness, but when one area of color |
| illusions. It also distorts our sense of depth, causing | | | | is larger and/or more intense than the other, the |
| foreground-background confusion, as well as other | | | | contrast is out of balance, appearing to be going in |
| perplexing effects. | | | | only one direction. |
| Optical illusion art requires math ingenuity, technical | | | | - Successive contrast - it occurs when one color is |
| skills and meticulous planning. Because it manipulates | | | | immediately followed by another color, quickly |
| the rules of perception, a viewer trying to decipher | | | | changing the viewer's focus from one area of color |
| such a painting may observe movement, hidden | | | | to the other. |
| images, three-dimensional forms, and other simulation. | | | | - Reverse contrast - it occurs when the lightness of |
| History of Optical Illusion Art | | | | white, or the darkness of black, seem to be |
| In October 1964, Time Magazine first used the term | | | | spreading into neighboring regions, causing colors to |
| "optical art" in an article that referred to illusionary | | | | appear to be spreading into one another. |
| painting as a new type of art, when, in fact, works in | | | | Characteristics of Optical Illusion Art |
| this style had already been produced 30 years prior. | | | | Like all other genres or movements, optical illusion art |
| One such artwork is the 1938 painting entitled | | | | has recognizable characteristics: |
| 'Zebras' by Victor Vasarely, whom many consider to | | | | - It fools the eye in various ways. It can give a |
| be the pioneer of this abstract movement. Other | | | | viewer the feeling or illusion that the image they are |
| artists such as Bridget Riley, Jesus-Rafael Soto, | | | | looking at is actually moving and/or multi-dimensional. |
| Richard Anuszkiewicz, and Francois Morellet also | | | | Although a viewer is well aware that the image is |
| created images that could be categorized as op art. | | | | fixed and flat, a different message is sent to the |
| MC Escher experimented with op art, though his | | | | brain. It is non-representational because it is |
| work was not viewed as being completely abstract. | | | | geometrically-based in nature. |
| How to Create Optical Illusion Art | | | | - It employs two techniques to create optical illusions: |
| All the elements used to produce an illusionary piece, | | | | perspective and juxtaposition of color, either |
| lines, shapes, and colors, must be carefully selected in | | | | chromatic or achromatic. |
| order for their combination to reach the intended | | | | - It requires that the positive and negative space |
| maximum effect.. | | | | share equal attention in order to produce an image |
| There are two main methods of producing op art. | | | | that functions properly. |
| The first, and perhaps most commonly recognized | | | | In 1965, a major exhibition called "The Responsive |
| method, is with the use of lines and pattern, often in | | | | Eye" truly captured the public's interest and |
| black and white, which bring about illusionary images. | | | | popularized the movement. As a result, op art began |
| The second is with color, using the same elements of | | | | to appear everywhere: in print ads, television |
| pattern, but resulting in additional effects on the | | | | advertising, album covers, and even in the fashion |
| viewer's eye and producing a different dimension. | | | | world. |