Design Basics Rhythm Op Art http://www.diabeacon.org/exhibs/riley/reconnaissance/ 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”.” Artists like Bridget Riley 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. Bridget Riley (born 1931) is one of the leading figures of the Op (Optical) art movement, which came to the fore in the international art world in the 1960s. Op art was manifest in both two- and three-dimensional objects. The name derives from the way in which the artist creates optical illusions of literally vibrating surfaces through repetition of simple forms and the juxtaposition of colours. Foreground and background appear to change place; animated patternings and other effects occur. In this image Riley subtly changes the greys from top to bottom of the image, and by using wavy lines maximises the length of the edges along which optical fusion and contrast can happen. Create an optical illusion. Experiment with different line patterns and color combinations. Remember that Complementary Colors placed side by side will create an optical conflict.