OpUsingArt

Line & Value

 Table Of Contents
Op Art Vocabulary List and Definitions
6 Coloring Pages

Op Art Lesson: Negative/Positive Value Scales

Instructions
Student Handout
Label and Rubric

Op Art Lesson: Optical Weaving

Instructions
Student Handout
Label and Rubric

Op Art Lesson: Waving Flag

Instructions
Student Handouts
Label and Rubric

6 Coloring Pages

Accompanying Lesson Material:

Contrasting Colors Lesson and Presentation

Presentation:
Using Line and Value to Create Op Art
Presentation Tip:
The presentations are PDFs. Watch them in
“Full Screen” mode and use the arrows on your
keyboard to move to the next slide.
 Op Art Vocabulary
Optical
Having to do with vision, or occurring visually, but not necessarily
physically.

Optical Illusion
Something that occurs visually, but not physically. This occurrence
“tricks the eyes” into thinking something is really happening when it is not.

Op Art
Abstract art that uses optical illusions as the subject matter.

Abstract Art
Art that does not attempt to portray real life.

Positive Shape
The shape of the perceived solid area.

Negative Shape
The shape that exists around the subject matter. The perceived
empty space around a solid object. The background.

Value
The quality of lightness or darkness of a color.

Value Scale
A range of value going, in steps, from black to white or vise versa.

Weaving
Material that has interlacing fibers, made by moving over and
under each other in a pattern.

Gradient
A range of value going smoothly from light to dark or vise versa.

Ambiguous
Having more than one meaning or solution.

Line
A continuous mark used in a work of art.

Converging Lines
Lines that come together and approach a meeting point,
or actually meet.
 Instructions
Negative/Positive Value Scales
(Grade 3 and above recommended)
Supplies needed:
9”x9” square paper will work with 12” rulers
9”x12” paper will need a longer ruler or straight edge
Pencils and erasers
Colored pencils (or any media where achieving a
gradient is possible)

Presentation: “Op Art using Line and Value”

Copies of the “Negative Positive Value Scale” handout
Copies of the rubric and label

Vocabulary:
Op Art • Line • Value • Negative Shape • Positive Shape
• Value Scale •
Steps:
Watch the “Op Art Using Line and Value” presentation.

There is an optional value scale practice page that may help some students.

Demonstrate the first 3 steps. Notice that it is not important to have

perfect squares or rectangles. However, using a ruler to draw all straight
lines will help students achieve a much better project. Show students the
rubric and goals for the project.

Let students do the first 3 steps. Have students finishing early assist
other student that may have trouble holding the ruler steady to make the
diagonals or squares.

Demonstrate the last 3 steps. Use your choice of color! In step 4, I erased
the diagonal lines. If you chose to skip this step, you will have 8 sections
instead of 4. This can also work, and might be easier for some students.

After students complete the last 3 steps, they should fill out the rubric by
coloring in the faces and put their name and class on the label.
Give students feedback verbally or on the rubric if possible.

I like to have students glue their finished work to a larger piece

of construction paper. Then students can glue the label under
their work, and glue the rubric on the back of the construction
paper.
They are now ready for display!
Value Scale
Practice

Name

Value Scale
Practice

Name

Value Scale
Practice

Name
 Negative Positive
Value Scale

LIGHTLY draw diagonal Add vertical and horizontal Add 3 “squares”.

lines to find the center. lines that intersect Make the corners touch
in the center. the dots on the diagonals.
Put 3 dots on each diagonal.

Add a 4-step value scale Add a value scale from

Erase the diagonal lines. from the center out in the outside in, in 2 areas.
2 areas.

© Expressive Monkey 2017

 Negative Positive
Value Scale

LIGHTLY draw diagonal Add vertical and horizontal Add 3 “squares”.

lines to find the center. lines that intersect Make the corners touch
in the center. the dots on the diagonals.
Put 3 dots on each diagonal.

Add a 4-step value scale Add a value scale from

Erase the diagonal lines. from the center out in the outside in, in 2 areas.
2 areas.

© Expressive Monkey 2017

 Negative Positive Value Scale Negative Positive Value Scale

Name Class Name Class

Op Art Op Art
Negative Positive Value Scale Negative Positive Value Scale
 Instructions
Optical Weaving
(Grade 3 and above recommended)
Supplies needed:
9”x12” paper
Rulers
Pencils and erasers
Colored pencils (or any media where achieving a
gradient is possible)

Presentation: “Op Art Using Line and Value”

Copies of the “Optical Weaving” handout
Copies of the rubric and label

Vocabulary:
Optical • Op Art • Line • Value • Weaving • Gradient

Steps:
Watch the “Op Art Using Line and Value” presentation.

Demonstrate the first 3 steps. Notice that it is not important to have

perfectly parallel lines, but using a ruler to draw straight lines will help
students achieve a much better project. Show students the rubric and goals
for the project.

Let students do the first 3 steps. Have students finishing early assist other
student that may have trouble holding the ruler steady to make the lines.

Demonstrate the last 3 steps. Have student check with you, or a partner,
before added color (in between steps 4 and 5). In step 5, the squares
between the “woven” lines could be colored in with marker.

There is an optional practice page so students can practice shading.

After students complete the last 3 steps, they should fill out the rubric by
coloring in the faces and put their name and class on the label.
Give students feedback verbally or on the rubric if possible.

I like to have students glue their finished work to a larger piece

of construction paper. Then students can glue the label under
their work, and glue the rubric on the back of the construction
paper.
They are now ready for display!
 Optical Weaving

Make 4 vertical lines. Erase so that the top 2

They don’t need to be Add 6 horizontal lines. lines look like they are
perfect. going over then under
the vertical lines.

Continue the over under Color in the squares Add shading before and
patterm for the bottom between the weaving. after going under.
lines .

© Expressive Monkey 2017

Practice shading in the Practice shading in the
optical weaving example. optical weaving example.

Name Name
 Optical Weaving Optical Weaving

Name Class Name Class

Op Art Op Art
Optica l Weaving Optica l Weaving
 Instructions
Waving Flag
(Grade 3 and above recommended)
Supplies needed:
9”x12” paper
Rulers (optional)
Pencils and erasers
Colored pencils (or any media where achieving a
gradient is possible)

Presentation: “Op Art Using Contrasting Colors”

“Contrasting Colors” worksheets
Presentation: “Op Art using Line and Value”
Copies of the “Waving Flag” handout
Copies of the “Using Value to Create
Form” handout
Copies of the rubric and label

Vocabulary:
Op Art • Line • Value • Ambiguous • Gradient

Steps:
Watch the “Op Art Using Contrasting Colors” presentation. Complete the
“Contrasting Colors” worksheets and label. Save the label to use for the
finished Waving Flag project. (If they change their minds about colors
later, they will need to make a new label. Extra labels are provided for this)
For example, students might say, “I created contrasting colors in my
artwork by using the color complements of red and green.”

Watch the “Op Art Using Line and Value” presentation.

Demonstrate the first 3 steps. Notice that it is not important to have

perfectly parallel lines, but using a ruler to draw straight lines will help
students achieve a much better project. Show students the rubric and
goals for the project.

Let students do the first 3 steps.

Demonstrate the last 3 steps. Have student check with you, or a

partner, before added color (in between steps 3 and 4). Remind
students that they will use the 2 colors they selected while doing
the “Contrasting Colors” worksheets. If they change their minds
about the colors, they will need to make sure that the new
colors are also “contrasting”. Make them aware that they will
also need to modify their label or possibly make a new label.
 Instructions Continued Waving Flag

Steps continued:
Use the handout, “Using Value to Create FORM” to help explain
how and where to add shading. The shading can be added
with a dark color like blue, purple or black. The shading could
also be added by pressing harder with the original color.
Lighter colors, like yellow, will need the help of a darker color
in this area.

After students complete the last 3 steps, they should fill

out the rubric by coloring in the faces and double check
their label (labels were filled out during the contrasting colors
lesson). Give students feedback verbally or on the rubric if
possible.

If they changed their minds about the colors they will need
to fill out a new label. I made a sheet of just labels for any
student needing just a new label. (Found in the “Contrasting
Colors” lesson packet.)

If you didn’t do the label along with the

contrasting colors worksheets. I have an
alternative label and rubric provided in this
packet so you can choose which one you
want to use based on your needs and the
needs of your students.

I like to have students glue their finished work to a larger piece of

construction paper. Then students can glue the label under their
work, and glue the rubric on the back of the construction paper.

They are now ready for display!

 Waving Flag

Draw 2 vertical, Add curved lines in the Add lines curving the
diagonal lines center section. opposite direction in
the outer sections.

Color in every other Use a contrasting Add shading to the

section with one of color in the remaining area nearest the
your colors. sections . vertical lines.

© Expressive Monkey 2017

 Waving Flag

Draw 2 vertical, Add curved lines in the Add lines curving the
diagonal lines center section. opposite direction in
the outer sections.

Color in every other Use a contrasting Add shading to the

section with one of color in the remaining area nearest the
your colors. sections . vertical lines.

© Expressive Monkey 2017

Using VALUE to create FORM
Waving Flag

When shapes curve in

different directions, they
Add shading on the two
appear to come forward, then
curve away. Or is it the other outside shapes nearest
way around? to the center shape.
That makes it ambiguous!

Creating a Gradient

When shading, make the

value darkest on the edge
by giving it more pressure.
Make it get gradually lighter
by lifing up on the
pressure.
Smooth it by blending if
you are using a media that
Add shading to both sides of blends.
the center shape. Make it
slightly lighter than the outside
shapes. © Expressive Monkey 2017
Waving Flag Waving Flag

Waving Flag Waving Flag

 Waving Flag Waving Flag

Name Class Name Class

How did you create contrasting colors? How did you create contrasting colors?

_______________________________________ _______________________________________

_______________________________________ _______________________________________

_______________________________________ _______________________________________
Op Art Op Art
Coloring Pages
Coloring pages are great for early finishers,
art centers, or if you just want to make this
a quick lesson and focus more on the color
choices and coloring technqiues.

If you’d like to see the easy techniques I used

to color this Negative Positive Value Scale in,
you can see it plus 3 other ideas in this
Op Art Technique blog post.

© Expressive Monkey 2013 - present

© 2013 - present Expressive Monkey
© 2013 - present Expressive Monkey
© 2013 - present Expressive Monkey
© 2013 - present Expressive Monkey
© 2013 - present Expressive Monkey
© 2013 - present Expressive Monkey
 C R E DI T S
Lesson and artwork by Stacey Peters.
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