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Grades 8–9ScienceArt

Watercolor Optical Illusions Lesson

Watercolor Illusions

How do artists use optical illusions?

Time required

45 minutes

Materials

Lesson Process

Step 1:  Review the research on the Watercolor Illusion here.

Step 2: Experiment by creating several different lines in a dark color and then flanking it with a slightly darker color on a white piece of paper. Does it make it look like the inside between the lines makes a different color? Use different lines, spaces and background colors to vary the experiment.

Step 3:  Explore a variety of old maps and cartography that used purple and orange to delineate geographical areas. Create your own map using this technique.

Assessment

Checklist.

Formative: Checklist for a watercolor illusion map.

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