…and the work of Bridget Riley.
Born in England, she became the foremost artist in the OP art style!
Op Art is derived from the Bauhaus…
a German “think-tank” group during the 1920-30’s.
Victor Vasarely
Op Art…
(short for
Optical Art)
was a art style
that created a
vibrating effect
or “optical
illusion”.
Movement in Squares, 1961
Tempera on Hardboard, 481/2x473/4 in.
How Op Art Works
It is a perceptual
experience related to
the eye, and how the
eye functions.
Bridget Riley
Breathe, 1966
Emulsion on Canvas, 117x82 in.
-When two planes are
next to each other in
an unusual manner,
they begin to compete
with each other
between figure and
ground. This is called
Juxtaposition.
In black and
white, pattern
and line
compete with
each other to
cause a
vibrating
effect.
Bridget Riley
Descending, 1965
Emulsion on Hardboard, 36x36 in.
In color, lines with
different values
create after
images of color.
Due to how the
retina in the eye
processes light,
color arises
because lightness
and darkness are
the two central
properties in the
creation of color.
Bridget Riley
Cataract 3, 1967
PVA on Canvas, 87x873/4 in
Bridget Riley
Arrest 1, 1965
Emulsion on Canvas,
70x681/4 in.
Bridget Riley
Fall, 1963
Emulsion on
Hardboard,
551/2x551/4 in.
Bridget Riley
Blaze 1, 1962
Emulsion on Hardboard,
43x43 in.
Bridget Riley
Orient 4, 1970
Acrylic on Canvas, 88x127
in.
Your Assignment
To create an Op Art line drawing/painting
in the style of Bridget Riley
 Using wavy flowing lines as the
background with alternating diagonal
lines between each wavy line.
 Incorporating concentric circles
 Using black and white or complimentary
colors
