Creating Rhythm & Movement

Through “OP Art”

Rhythm

Rhythm is a word we are familiar with when we think of subjects such as music and dance. You might think of it as the drum beat to a song, the clapping of hands or even the tapping noise created by dancers on the floor. Words such as beat, tempo or pulsing may come to mind. These are examples of rhythms we hear. Now think of what rhythm means to a visual artist.

Rhythm Is One of the Principles of Design

To an artist, rhythm shows movement through the artists' repetition of certain elements of art. Just as in music when a beat is repeated over and over, an artist will use an element of art such as color and repeat it over and over in a work of art. Let's look at an example.

Brittney, 8th grade, Fish tessellation, Cut paper and markers, 9 x 9"

Movement

Movement is another very important Principle of Design. Perhaps you are thinking that artworks as a rule do not actually move. You are correct, but we are talking about visual movement. Artists know that if certain Elements Of Art are used to create a Rhythm, there will be visual movement. The viewer's eye is drawn from one object to the next as they appear over and over in a piece of work. Let's take a look at an example.

Vincent Van Gogh, (Dutch) 1853-1890, Starry Night, 1889, Oil on CanvasMuseum of Modern Art, NY

Creating Rhythm & Movement Through “OP Art”

Bridget Riley, Blaze 4, 1964 Bridget Riley, Movement in Squares, 1964

What is Op Art anyway?

Optical Art is generally characterized by hard-edged black and white patterns or geometric shapes which use repetition of simple forms and colors to create vibrating effects.

“OP Art”

The birth of op art began officially with an article in time magazine. In 1964, Time magazine published an article featuring an art movement involving optical illusions. Since the artists focused on eye manipulation, Time magazine coined this new movement “op art”.

Father of Op Art

Victor Vasarely 1906-1997

Vasarely is hailed as the inventor and father of optical art.

The breakthrough brought by his "kinetic" experiments transformed the flat surface into a world of unending possibilities, way before the advent of computers, book marking an era in the history of art in general.

Female OP Artist

Bridget Riley, 1964Bridget Riley, 1982

Artists like Bridget Riley (Born, 1931) understood that the human eye has trouble looking at certain color combinations and line combinations. In fact, if you stare at them long enough, the images actually appear to move or vibrate.

Get Ready to create your own OP-ART

You will create your own OP-Art designs that will use both rhythm and movement based on the ideas of Riley & Vasarely.

Finished! Op Art Design in the style of Bridget Riley.