Optical Illusions

This term, Year 3 have taken an exciting journey into the world of Art and Design. They learned how artists use perspective to create optical illusions and interesting pictures. The children were inspired by M.C. Escher, an artist known for his clever and tricky designs. They studied how he used repeating shapes (tessellation) and vanishing points to guide the viewer’s eyes.

To practise these skills, the children chose to draw either a Savanna landscape or a tree-lined path using one-point perspective. They learned how to use lines that meet at a point, shading, and size to make their drawings look real and deep.

Next, they explored forced perspective photography. This is a fun way to take photos that play tricks on the eyes, like making someone look like they are holding a building or balancing a tree in their hand. The children planned and posed for their own creative photos, thinking carefully about angles, distance, and camera position.

The children are excited about their upcoming trip to Paradise Lost, where they’ll photograph natural vanishing points and later turn them into detailed drawings. This project has encouraged them to observe closely, think creatively, and express their ideas with confidence. Their artwork is full of imagination and will soon be proudly displayed.