VICTOR VASARELY OP ART

Victor Vasarely Op Art

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Victor Vasarely Op Art using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use warm/cool colors (red, orange, yellow; green, blue, purple), form (cube, cylinder, cone, sphere), and value (highlight, shadow, core shadow) inspired by Hungarian French Artist (1906-1997) Victor Vasarely
• Use optical effects (flashing, swelling, warping) and design principles (variation, balance, movement) based on Op Art Movement
• Define Op Art (style of art that comprises of illusions and often appears to the human eye to be moving or breathing due to its precise mathematical based composition)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1.  Vega 200 (1968) Victor Vasarely
2. Read Vasarely (Basic Art Series) by Magdalena Holzhey
3. Discussion Questions "What is the middle symbol? Which is longer? Which segment is longer? Is the red dot located on the line midpoint or to the left of it? How much shorter is the front line? Which of these two rectangles is a square? Are the lines straight or curved? Are the squares parallel? Can you see the wheel moving? Which direction? Do you see grey dots? What color are the dots now? Is the horizontal bas uniformly black or transparent? What shapes do you see? Which one is lighter? Which one is bright?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" by 15" Drawing Paper
2.  Use colored pencil to draw form (cube, cylinder, cone, sphere) in the middle of the drawing paper
3. Add line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal, arched) to the form (cube, cylinder, cone, sphere) of the drawing

Reminder:

• Initials & Home Teacher on Back of Paper

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Victor Vasarely Op Art for Assigned Table
2. Munich Olympics (1972) Victor Vasarely
3. Discussion Questions "Can the image be seen another way? What is creating this effect? What are you looking at? What is making this movement? What do you notice about the colors? Do you see any shapes? What shapes do you see in this picture? Do squares seem to be the same color? Can you see the shadows? How do you think this artwork would move in a gallery? How different would it look if it was just black and white? How do you feel when you look at these pictures?"

Lesson Activities

1. Extend line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal, arched) outside of the form (cube, cylinder, cone, sphere) of the drawing
2. Add short segments to form (cube, cylinder, cone, sphere) to make the look of three-dimensional instead of two-dimensional art
3. Add shadows (cast shadow, mid tones, shadow) to the positive/negative space of the Op Art

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Victor Vasarely Op Art for Assigned Table
2. Set Up Studio Area (colored pencils, erasers, rulers, compass)

Lesson Activities

1. Fill in the positive space (form) with warm/cool colors (red, orange, yellow; green, blue, purple) of the optical illusions
2. Fill in the negative space (background) with warm/cool colors (red, orange, yellow; green, blue, purple) of the optical illusions
3. Add highlights (reflective light, casting light, light source) to the positive/negative space of the Op Art

Artist Examples

Student Examples