ART II – Optical Watercolor
NAME:_________________
LESSON FOCUS:
This lesson focuses on creating a landscape image that incorporates an optical illusion
using colored pencils and watercolor paint.
VOCABULARY:
Complementary colors: Colors that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel,
such as red and green, blue and orange, and violet and yellow. When complements are
mixed together in the right proportions, they form a neutral gray.
Landscape: A painting, photograph, or other work of art that shows natural scenery such
as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and lakes.
Medium: A material used by an artist to produce a work of art.
Mixed media: The use of several different materials in one work of art.
Motif: A unit that is repeated in visual rhythm. Units in a motif may or may not be an
exact duplicate of the first unit.
Movement: A principle of art used to create the look and feeling of action and to guide
the viewer’s eye throughout the work of art.
Op art: A twentieth-century art style in which artists sought to create an impression of
movement on the picture surface by means of optical illusion.
Perspective: A method for representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional
surface. Perspective is created by overlapping, size variations, placement, detail, color,
and converging lines.
Repetition: A principle of art, this term refers to a way of combining art elements so that
the same elements are used over and over.
Rhythm: a principle of art, it refers to the careful placement of repeated elements in a
work of art to cause a visual tempo or beat.
Shape: An element of art referring to a two-dimensional area clearly set off by one or
more of the other visual elements such as color, value, line, texture, and space.
Tessellation: Tessellations are patterns which join together to cover a surface, leaving no
empty spaces on that surface. This form of art is widely known due to the works of M.C.
Escher, and is often used in math classes as a way of demonstrating congruency within
patterns.
Watercolor: Transparent pigments mixed with water. Paintings done with this medium
are known as watercolors.
PROCEDURE:
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Using photographs of landscapes as reference, create an imaginary landscape.
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Include any landscape features but be sure to fill the page to create a wellbalanced composition.
Incorporate perspective techniques as needed to create a sense of depth.
Layout out your landscape on manila sketch paper.
Somewhere in your landscape you must create an optical illusion.
o This can be achieved by using colors that contrast, black and white, and/or
complementary colors.
o Consider repeating a shape or motif, using stripes or swirls.
o Practice on a piece of scrap paper before beginning on the final.
Once you have a successful optical illusion, begin drawing it onto the watercolor
paper using colored pencils.
o Layout lightly in pencil first.
o If you need to erase, do so carefully so the paper doesn’t get damaged.
o Think about placement and if needed, place the illusion in more than one
area to balance the image better.
o A thick, opaque application of the colored pencil will work best.
Once your optical illusion is complete, finish the landscape in watercolor.
You may use any watercolor techniques demonstrated.
o Salt, plastic wrap, liquid watercolor
See me when you think your work is complete.
MATERIALS:
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18”x 24” manila sketch paper
18”x 24” watercolor paper
pencil, eraser
ruler and/or compass (if needed)
colored pencils (assorted colors)
watercolor paints
brushes
paper towels
water container
RELATED ARTISTS:
M.C. Escher, Bridget Riley
M.C. Escher:
Bridget Riley:
Student Work: