When Planning Your Drawing Unit… Start with Optical Illusions!
Optical Illusions will engage young artists and teens right from the start of the school year! The first couple of weeks of art class is a soup of emotions for your students. Some are excited to be in art class and some are dreading it! Some are wondering why they have to take an art class at all! Whether your students are excited or nervous to be in your art class…gather them all in with a lesson that ALL students can find success with. Even better, while students think they are just creating an easy art lesson, you are actually preparing them for an upcoming Perspective Drawing Unit! Even non-motivated students will give Optical Illusions a try because the designs are interesting and “Don’t seem too hard”.
Here are 3 great reasons why Optical Illusions should have a place in your Art Class curriculum this year:
Reason 1:
Easy + Fun Lessons = Safety with an Opportunity for Creativity
Put yourself in your students’ place first. Some secretly don’t want to look bad in front of their peers or to you. Some want to impress you like crazy. Starting Art Class with an “easy” and non-intimidating project puts students of all artistic skill levels at ease. 
It eases students into your class slowly and builds their confidence in their art skills…but they also are watching YOU. What kind of teacher are you? The bottom line is do you care about them and their success? Are YOU willing to help and support them? Some will even act out and misbehave just to test your level of commitment to them. The first art lesson is way more about relationship building than creating art.
Reason 2:
Optical Illusions Prepare Students for New Learning
Most Drawing Units cover One-Point perspective drawing and sometimes Two-Point Perspective. Optical Illusions are a form of One-Point Perspective so these designs are a soft lead into the more challenging drawing techniques coming up..
The magic secret that makes optical illusions work is the same principle that makes perspective drawings work.
Large shapes that gradually get smaller trick our brains into thinking there is depth on a flat piece of paper.
Creating an optical illusion segues beautifully into One-Point Perspective drawing lessons beautifully. The concept of drawing cubes with orthogonal lines that go to a vanishing point will look very familiar to your students after creating an optical illusion. They will feel more confident starting your perspective drawing lessons.
Reason 3:
Optical Illusions Make a Dazzling Hallway Display!
Hang up every single student’s optical illusion in the school environment or outside your art room as an exciting and welcoming display! This allows you to create an artistic display right away!
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By hanging up a display right away each student receives 3 unspoken messages from you:
- You matter and your art matters. your art is worthy to be displayed.
- Do your very best work on art projects you… because they will be seen by others! Just try!
- I am PROUD of you! Great job!
There are tons of easy Optical Illusion tutorials online and on Pinterest. However, if you would like to start out with a collection of student-friendly, “Print & Go” handouts take a look at the Optical Illusion Packets that I use HERE
I like this packet because the students can read and follow the steps on their own. 
This is super helpful if you end up with a sub. It even can be used as a sub-plan lesson!
Some artists that appeal to teens and that go along with teaching Optical Illusions are Bridget Riley, Julian Beever, Oleg Shuplyak, Ramon Bruin, Thomas Barbey, and Eric Johansson.
I’d love to see some of your creations!
This Heart is a Box Op Art Lesson is great for Valentine,s Day or anytime!
Check out this recent post tutorial to draw a dazzling optical illusion with contrasting colors!
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Thanks for stopping by!
Susanne Reisterer-Creator of SparkleGal’s Art Magic- Art Education Resources
