Fun Op Art Drawing For Kids & Beginners
Children love learning about the OP Art movement and creating unique optical designs. Follow our step-by-step Op art tutorial for kids to create fun shaded “wiggly line” designs.
This step-by-step Op Art drawing has been a favorite on our site since it was published in January 2023. Erin has updated this art lesson with more precise instructions and key takeaways in February 2025. Happy drawing!
Why You Will Love This Art Idea
*We usually complete this with 3rd graders. You will be amazed at some of the results you can get. However, some students that age can lack the abilities or fine motor skills, so for better success, complete with 4th grade and up!
Elementary Art Lesson
This is a great time to help explain what an art movement is.
We liked to explain to kids that it would be like 4 of them realized they were all making art with the same style and ideas in the 1960s.
How To Explain Op Art To Kids
Have them guess what they think “Op” stands for. They know optical illusions and understand that artists made art around this concept.
Check out this other simple Op Art tutorial for another Op Art lesson.
Artist Inspiration
- Bridget Riley: is best known for her black-and-white images that appear to move or blur together. Our favorite artwork of Riley’s is Cataract 3, painted in 1967.
- Victor Vasarely: is known to be the father of the Op Art movement. He uses more geometric shapes and color in his work to great confusion with depth. Vega 222, painted 1969-1970, and his other sphere artworks are some of our favorites.
Analyzing and Discussing
Look at a variety of artworks from the Op art movement. Use some of the following questions to get a discussion going with children.
- What colors do you see? Why do you think some are only black and white?
- How does the artist challenge your eye?
- If something is repeated, what happens to the shapes or sizes?
- Why would they use patterns?
- How does this artwork make you feel?
Note: You can also use similar questions and prompts when looking at other abstract artists like Kandinsky or Mondrian with children.
Supplies You’ll Need
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Always sketch light until you get it right!
Erin from Crafty Art Ideas
Op Art Line Drawing Tutorial
ART TEACHER TIP – These drawings work best if the paper is horizontal, but we have had a few where the child does well with vertical paper.
Step 1: Draw A Line and Add 5-7 Dots
This line can be straight or slightly wavy. It is important to not make it too wavy. Try to make the dots evenly spaced. To do this, start in the middle and add them out to the edge.
Step 2: Connect The Dots Curved Lines
We also refer to this as a frown or smile line depending on which way you are holding the paper. Your drawing will look like a shell necklace going across the page.
Step 3: Add Repeated Curved Lines To One Section
Working “top to top” draw curved lines until that row goes off the page. The lines will continue to get smaller and smaller.
Step 4: Skip A “Shell” and Draw Repeat Drawing The Row
Repeat drawing top to top until you go off the page.
Step 5: Repeat
Repeat drawing curved lines. Some of your rows or “worms” may collide with the other drawings and lines. That is natural and part of the drawing.
Step 6: Flip The Paper Over And Repeat Steps 5-7
Work on adding curved lines every other shell until you go off the page.
Step 7: Add Tear Drops In Empty Spaces If Needed
If you have an empty white space between wiggly lines, draw a teardrop shape and then curved lines until you go off the page.
Step 8: Add Finishing Touches
If you drew in pencil (like we recommend) outline with a black marker when finished. Erase extra pencil lines before moving on to colored pencils. This drawing is best if you outline it with a regular fine-tip sharpie. If lines are too small, then use an ultra-fine tip marker.
Step 9: Add Color
You will use the same color, across the band. On the edges, you want a darker value. Press harder and fade so that the middle is very light or white. Repeat on the other corner.
Step 10: Repeat Color Pattern Up The Whole Curved Line Shape
Repeat the darker corners with the same color in every other band. Use shading to create darker values in the corners with a different color.
Step 11: Continue To Color All Rows
Color each row with different patterns. You can use the same two colors or switch your pattern design.
Step 12: Work Until All Lines Are Colored
Read More: If you like this simple drawing tutorial, you will also love how to create an easy mandala kid art lesson.
Drawing Tips
- CREATE A PATTERN WITH COLOR – Each row should be the same pattern. Using two colors is the easiest for kids, but you can use more than that as long you color in a pattern.
- CREATE BALANCE – You can use the same 2 or 3 colors for all the worms. Or switch for each row.
- LESS IS MORE – Don’t draw more than 5-7 dots across your page. Your design will become too complicated for a 6″ x 9″ paper.
- BE CREATIVE – It is fun if the “worms or wiggly lines” turn and twist. Encourage kids to have a variety. Just ensure they overlap properly and don’t draw through each line.
- LIGHTLY SKETCH – Draw with a pencil first, trace with a black marker and then use a large eraser to remove pencil lines before coloring.
- EXPERIMENT – When shading with colored pencils, some beginners find it easier to color vertically, while others prefer horizontally. Pick the one that works best for you.
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Design Tutorial FAQs
These drawings will take several class periods to complete. If you make them too large, children may become discouraged before they finish.
Yes, art lessons don’t just come out of a creative vacuum. Over the years, the directions above are how we best found to explain to 3rd graders and above. This is a lesson my father (a high school art teacher from the 80s) has been doing forever.
We show a few unique steps in the drawing process to help create wiggly lines or worms easily with kids.
It is best to encourage the lines in the drawings not to go too close together. You may need to use a combination of markers depending on the shapes you end up with.
Related Drawing Ideas
- How To Draw Radial Symmetry For Beginners
- 9+ Mandala Art Ideas For Beginners
- Fun Laurel Burch Cat Art Lesson
- How To Draw A Simple Snowflake
Making Op Art designs with school-aged children can be a lot of fun and they will love the end result. Get creative making your own optical drawing today.
Do you like this art project? Please give us 5 stars below 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 and have fun being creative with your family.
Easy Op Art Drawing For Kids
Equipment
- 1 Pencil
Supplies
- 1 Regular Fine Tip Black Permanent Marker
- 1 piece 6" x 9" White Drawing Paper
- Colored Pencils
Instructions
- Draw one straight or slightly wavy line across the page.
- Lightly draw 5-7 dots across your line. Try to make them evenly spaced.
- Connect the dots with curved lines on both sides. It will look like a shell necklace going across your page.
- On one section repeatedly draw curved lines connecting top to top. Working "top to top" draw curved lines until that row goes off the page. The lines will continue to get smaller and smaller.
- Repeat drawing curved lines on top of each section. Some of your rows or "worms" may collide with the other drawings and lines. That is natural and part of the drawing.
- Flip the paper over and repeat the previous three steps.
- If you have an empty white space between wiggly lines, draw a teardrop shape and then curved lines until you go off the page.
- If you drew in pencil (like we recommend) outline with a black marker when finished. Erase extra pencil lines before moving on to colored pencils.
Adding Colored Pencils
- Use the same color, across the band. On the edges, you want a darker value. Press harder and fade so that the middle is very light or white. Repeat on the other corner.
- Inside each long wiggly line, alternate two different colors and continue shading each shape.
- Use the same colors or different color combinations in each "wiggly line" to complete the project.
Notes
- Each row should be the same pattern. 2 colors work best, but you can use more than that as long you color in a pattern.
- You can use the same 2 or 3 colors for all the worms/wiggly lines. Or switch for each row.
- Don’t draw more than 5-7 dots across your page. Your design will become too complicated for a 6″ x 9″ paper.
- It is fun if the “worms or wiggly lines” turn and twist. Encourage kids to have a variety. Just make sure that they overlap properly and don’t draw through each line.
- Draw with a pencil first, trace with a marker and then use a large eraser to get rid of pencil lines before coloring.