6th graders were given one of the three Op Art characteristics: 3D, Movement, and Illusion. Their characteristic was Movement. Based off of the work of Vasarely and Riley, they designed black and "white" optical illusions on scrap laminate with black sharpies. Then, we painted a support for our designs using neon liquid watercolors on white paper. Neon colors contrasted nicely with the black and "white" (it is actually clear) color schemes. Students had to keep the images abstract, but could use whatever colors provided at their tables. The laminate was mounted away from the support with stacked foam mounting squares to allow for light to create shadows on the watercolor background supports. The shadows move as you walk past the collages.
Materials: scrap laminate (or clear acetate, transparency sheets, etc.), black sharpies, copy paper, pencils, 8 x 10 white sulphite paper, neon liquid watercolors, brushes, water, foam mounting squares.
