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The Bezold Effect

12/28/2014

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By far, the Bezold Effect is one of the most intriguing illusions discovered. Similar to some other illusions in past, this illusion was uncovered by accident as well. The famed name behind the illusion is of Wilhelm von Bezold, a German professor of meteorology. The professor had taken up a home décor project, designing a rug for his home.

He was stumped on the colors he wanted to include in the rug and his experiments of adding and subtracting colors led him to discover the effect created by one change of color on the remaining colors in the rug design. However, people were quick to identify that the Bezold Effect wasn’t any different than the concept of simultaneous color contrast.

The Bezold Effect vs. Simultaneous Color Contrast 
The simultaneous color contrast and the Bezold Effect may sound similar, but they have one stark difference that needs to be cleared. In the simultaneous color contrast, a color takes on the hue and brightness of its surrounding colors. In the Bezold Effect, a colored region changes its color depending on the colors that encircle it. Unlike its counterpart, the Bezold Effect only works under certain circumstances. From here on, people’s fascination with the changing hue of the surrounding colors became evident.

The Mystery Surrounding the Color Change 
When simultaneous color contrast effect was discovered, scientists explained that it was due to the excitation function in the perception of color and lateral inhibition, which was related to brightness perception. 

However, scientists were never able to clarify the theory behind the Bezold Effect with some stating that it could be possible via spatial frequency dynamics that state which effect, contrast, and assimilation will occur. Even though scientists’ weren’t able to give a clear explanation as to what happens, people remained transfixed at seeing two different pictures and its effect on the surrounding colors.  

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Examples of the Bezold Effect 
There are two pictures, both have red lines running across it with the only difference being the background colors, one is black while the other is white. What do you think will happen? The red line that’s going across will appear lighter on the picture with the white background in comparison to the picture with the black background. Let’s look at another example. Below is the Green and Orange Optical Spy color illusion.

When viewing this example, keep the concepts of the Bezold Effect clear in your mind. Now, focus your attention on the example. The words are both exactly the same shade of orange but because of the Bezold effect the word SPY looks darker than the word OPTICAL.

Did the Bezold Effect leave you puzzled, as it has done in the past to many others? If it did, we hope it made you feel charmed and amazed. 

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© opticalspy 2014 
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Street Artist Julian Beever

12/13/2014

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"My work appeals literally to the [people] in the street and is not confined in galleries or limited by the gallery system"— Julian Beever
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What’s the world’s fascination with Julian Beever? Julian Beever, a British Chalk artist, left the world stunned when he created amazing artwork using the technique of trompe-l’œil pavement chalk art along with anamorphosis to create three-dimensional illusions. His artwork captured the world’s attention when pictures of it began floating around the web. Since then, he’s travelled to US, Turkey, Japan, and Chile to adorn their streets with his breath-taking pavement art. This mini biography will let you in the world of Julian Beever and on how he got his start as an artist.

Who is Julian Beever? 
Born in Cheltenham, UK, in 1959, Beever grew up in Melton Mowbray as his parents moved there when he was two. During his youth, he developed a passion for art and enrolled at Leeds Met University to study art (1979-1983). After he graduated, he pursued pavement art and began working as a busker or street performer, drawing in the streets of US, Europe, and Australia to fund his travels. In the mid-1990s, Julian Beever became interested in learning the anamorphosis technique, which he combined with the trompe-l’œil technique, and the world took notice.

Julian Beever’s Eye-Popping Artwork 
Beever, already an expert in drawing on pavements, took this newly acquired art form to the streets. So, how does he do it? Let’s look at the process he follows to create his grand masterpieces:
  1. He starts his work by sketching the drawing he intends to make on the pavement on paper first.
  2. Next, he sets up a camera at an angle that will let the viewers see the image as whole. 
  3. Then, he begins to draw a distorted picture on the pavement, which can take up to four days to complete depending on the complexity of the picture.
  4. After his drawing is complete, it’s ready for public viewing.

The Excitement of Seeing the Work Alive 
Beever’s pavement drawings take a life of their own if viewed from a certain vantage point, jumping out at the viewer. If viewed from any other angle, the drawing will look distorted. However, by now, people are aware of the kind of artwork he produces and the angle they’re supposed to view it from.
When people run into his artwork, they incorporate themselves in the drawing as if they’re interacting with it and take pictures, which enhance the 3-dimensional effect. Everyone from babies to adults has enjoyed being part of something amazing. With time, he’s gained a legion of fans who’ve dubbed him “Pavement Picasso.” 
Recognizing his and his artwork’s popularity with the masses, large companies regularly commission him to design murals. Apart from flying around the world to create pavement art, he’s published a book Pavement Chalk Artist, which is a collection of his artwork around the world. 

Julian Beever created an art form that lets people be one with the art. If you’re lucky, you just might run into Beever’s artwork.
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© opticalspy 2014 
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Optical Art

12/7/2014

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It’s 1964 and the public is occupied with dealing with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the on-going Civil rights movement, the invasion of the Beatles, and not far behind, the movement of optical art or op art is slowly making itself known. That year belonged to the artists who immersed themselves in creating “Pictures That Attack the Eye,” as said by Time Magazine.

If you view the picture, you’d see it move, breathe, flash, and vibrate, giving the viewer the feeling of movement. Although the Op art movement was highly publicized in 1964, Eugene Chevreul, a French Chemist, in 1839 had already discovered it and was George Seurat’s, “The Father of Op art,” inspiration who in return inspired Bridget Riley, a renowned painter. However, Op Art’s roots are rooted deep in the year of 1938.

Op Art:  The Beginning 
Victor Vasarely painted the Zebras in 1938 and created the painting using only black and white stripes. The stripes seemed to explode at you at the same time blend into the background. How did this movement find its way to the United States?

The credit goes to Bauhaus, a German school headed by Walter Groupius. He students learned to focus on the complete design to create unified artwork. However, when the school closed down, the instructors went to the United States, taking the movement along with them.

Op Art:  Arrives to the United States 
Artists felt intrigued by this form of new art and wanted to explore it further in the hopes of integrating it in society. To their relief, Op art flourished amongst the public who found the geometric designs, the use of colors, and black and white patterns interesting. The Museum of Modern Art celebrated Op art by announcing an exhibition called The Responsive Eye.

The exhibition exhibited Optical art’s perceptual aspects such as the false impression of movement and the interaction of colors. Although the critics were less than impressed by this art form often comparing it with trompe-l’oeil technique, the public relished it. Following are ways the art form tricks the eye:

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Bridget Riley - Current
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Anuszkiewicz - Intrinsic Harmony
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Julian Stanczak - Conducting Light
1.      Black and White Pattern in Relation to the Ground/Figure Relationship
Artists created effects using line and pattern, painting them with colors black and white (refer to Bridget Riley’s painting Current (1964). While Getulio Alviani created his masterpiece using aluminum surfaces to create patterns that changed color as the viewer moved. 

2.      Use of Colors
Artists used contrasting colors to create the illusion of movement. For instance, Richard Anuszkiewicz to create his temple paintings used two contrasting colors to create depth and provide the viewer with a psychedelic experience as if the image is protruding out. 

3.      Interaction of Colors
There are three ways on how colors interact with each other, successive contrast, simultaneous contrast, and reverse contrast. In successive contrast, the viewer sees the first color, and then moves on to the next. In simultaneous contrast, the artist surrounds the first color with a different one. Lastly, in the reverse contrast, the viewer sees the color black and white trying to escape outwards and into the next color. 

Can your eyes handle seeing Op art? If you’re ready to see some amazing art take form, be sure to look at the famous paintings of Op art artists mentioned in here.  
© opticalspy 2014 
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