op art

OP-ART

*OP-ART: HISTORY• In 1839 the French chemist Michel-Eugene Chevreul

experimented with complimentary color relationships which influenced the earliest examples of Op Art

* The term referenced the fact that Op Art is comprised of illusion, and often appears - to the human eye - to be moving or breathing due to its precise, mathematically-based composition.

* Chevreul's experiments led the first Op Artist, George Seurat to create his impressionistic pointillism paintings

*OP-ART: GEORGE SEURAT

*OP-ART: HISTORY• Joseph Albers experimented with the interaction and

relationships of color.

• In 1949 his series of paintings called "Homage To The Square" led the way to a new understanding of how colors change when in the context of other colors.

• Albers is credited with the invention of Op Art and many art educational innovations.

*OP-ART: Joseph Albers

*OP-ART: HISTORY*A movement from the 1960s which used precise geometrical

patterns painted in vivid colors or black-and-white to create optical illusions of movement and fool the viewer's sense of perspective.

*Example: creating the illusion of a sphere bulging from a flat canvas.

* Is “non-representational" rather than "representational”

*The term referenced the fact that Op Art is comprised of illusion, and often appears - to the human eye - to be moving or breathing due to its precise, mathematically-based composition.

*OP-ART: HISTORY• Paintings are either Black and White or the Artists use the

properties of warm colors which appear to advance and cool colors which appear to recede in these illusions.

• After (and because of) a major 1965 exhibition of Op Art entitled The Responsive Eye, the public became enraptured with the movement.

• Time Magazine called it, "an attack on the eyes"

• Includes paintings concerned with surface kinetics. It was a movement which exploits the fallibility of the eye through the use of optical illusions.

*OP-ART: HOW?*Viewer gets the impression of movement by flashing and

vibration, or alternatively of swelling or warping.

*Used colors, lines and shapes repetitive and simple ways to create perceived movement and to trick the viewer's eye.

*Goal of Op Art was to produce painting is to create a visual illusion by using geometric patterns and contrasting colors.

*Techniques used in Op Art are perspective and careful juxtaposition of color (whether chromatic [identifiable hues] or achromatic [black, white or gray]).

*OP-ART: WHAT?• Because of its geometrically-based nature, Op Art

is, almost without exception, non-representational.

• Elements employed (color, line and shape) are carefully chosen to achieve maximum effect.

• Aim of Op Art was to produce illusions of depth, relief and motion; it would blur or stir the eye, but never by resorting to actual movement (as in Kinetic Art).

*OP-ART: WHO?• Victor Vasarely (1906-1997): Hungarian-French

artist.

• main objective was the creation of an illusion of movement.

• pioneered the movement with his 1938 painting Zebra.

• helped the most to popularize Op Art projects and research; he produced many of his works within the architecture and planning of large cities.

*OP-ART: VICTOR VASARELY

*OP-ART: WHO?• Bridget Riley (1931-): English Op-Art Painter.

• Best known for her black and white paintings that create unique optical effects on canvas.

• incorporates new shapes and designs into her later work, and reflects the influence of Egyptian hieroglyphs in pieces that play with opposing colors.

*OP-ART: BRIDGET RILEY

*OP-ART: PHILIP TAAFE

*OP-ART: EXAMPLES

*PROJECT REQUIREMENTS• Ultimate Goal: Create a crisp and well crafted Op Art painting

• Use of black, white and two complimentary colors

• Use of acrylic paint and appropriate brushes.

• Painting will be between 18x18" to 18x24"

*QUESTIONS?

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