Optical Illusion Drawing – How You Use Optical Illusions in Art?

Optical illusion drawings are always a great way to enhance your drawing skills as it provides the unique opportunity to use precise measurements in conjunction with shading techniques. Often optical illusions are seen as strange intricate drawings that are difficult to create due to their mind-bending effects. However, in this tutorial, we will explore some interesting optical illusion sketches that can be completed in a few easy and simple steps. Optical illusions can also significantly add to strange and abstract drawing ideas because of their strange three-dimensional effects. Utilizing these 3D illusion drawing techniques in various artworks can be a great addition to surrealist and abstract-themed artwork. Many benefits come from knowing how to draw illusion sketches providing artists with a unique set of skills within their drawing repertoire.

An Easy Guide to Drawing Optical Illusions

Optical illusion drawings are not difficult but some are slightly easier than others. That being said, we will go through the process of drawing various easy optical illusion artworks that can be broken up into digestible steps. When creating a 3D illusion drawing, we will find that it is more a matter of patience and precision. As long as we approach the drawing process with patience, we will find that creating illusion drawings is simple and fun. In this easy optical illusion art tutorial, we will also only need a few simple materials:

Necessary Materials

Illusion drawings are quite simple to draw and require the simplest of tools to do so. In this tutorial on how to draw illusions, we will only need a pencil, pen, marker, and ruler. We will also want to make sure we have an eraser for any silly mistakes made along the way. Other than that, any paper will do. You will also need to make sure that you have a space where you can focus and engage with each step of the tutorial. All the materials can be found through the links below:

• Pencils
• Copic Marker
• Ballpoint Pen
• Eraser
• Good Paper (200 g/m – 250 g/m recommended)

Step-by-Step Instructions for Easy Optical Illusion Artworks

In this tutorial, we will look at how to draw five unique optical illusions, some more simple than others but all of them are easy. We will break down the drawing process into a few simple steps for each optical illusion giving us the best possible chance to create a beautiful optical illusion drawing. Now that we know what to expect, let’s get started with this optical illusion drawing tutorial.

How to Draw an Impossible Triangle

What makes optical illusion drawings so unique is the strange way light and shadows interact with warped three-dimensional objects. In many ways, three-dimensional rules are broken which results in a seemingly impossible object. The best way to introduce this idea is with the impossible triangle.

Step 1: Drawing the L-Shaped

Using your ruler and pencil, you want to start by drawing two lines parallel to one another in a vertical direction. We will want to draw an L-type shape. Make sure the lines are all the same in width between one another and that the L-shaped is the same in length for both the vertical and horizontal sections.

Once you have your two vertical parallel lines, you can connect another two parallel lines to the bottom of the first two at the corners. They should be the same in width with the bottom two moving in a diagonal direction to create an L-shape that is the same in length as well. 

Step 2: Making the L-Shape Three-dimensional

Now that we have this two-dimensional L-shape we want to add lines to make it three-dimensional. We do this by creating a set of small diagonal lines that all move in the same direction from each corner of the L-shape. Just make sure to keep the width of lines always the same.

Step 3: Adding Connecting Lines

We now want to add lines from the top of the L-shape to the end of the L-shape. We want to use the three-dimensional diagonal lines to guide the placement of these connecting lines. We want to make sure the width of the lines always remains the same.

We now want to draw another connecting line that runs parallel underneath the first two using the same width as before. By doing this, we will give the connecting lines three-dimensionality, making the structure flow in an infinite loop.

Step 4: Erasing Lines Inside the Triangle

Now that we have this triangle with even lengths and widths, we want to erase the lines inside the shape to accentuate the infinite loop. We only want to erase the lines inside the top of the shape and the section that runs vertically inside the middle of the shape.

By erasing the lines inside the middle section and top section of the triangular shape, we will start to see the impossible triangular shape appear in three dimensions.

Step 5: Adding Shading for More Three-Dimensionality

To further emphasize the three-dimensional quality, we can add shading to certain parts of the triangular shape. Starting with the middle section, you can add shading that has a dark to a light gradient that flows through the triangular shape.

We can add another gradient of shading from the other corner of the triangle, but this time keeping it slightly lighter. This way, we will be left with three different shades on each part of the triangular shape.

We want to make sure that we have three different tonal values in each part of the triangular shape to emphasize its three-dimensionality.

And there you have it! A simple step-by-step process on how to draw an impossible triangle.

How to Draw an Impossible Trident

The impossible trident is perhaps the most recognizable optical illusion drawing. This is a great illusion drawing that is both interesting and complex but so simple to draw. Let us break down the process of drawing the impossible trident.

Step 1: Drawing the Individual Rods

Using your pencil and ruler begin to draw a rod shape that moves in a diagonal direction. We want to make sure that the end of each rod is rounded and that they are all the same in width.

We want to draw three rods, with each one beneath the last slightly shortened. By doing this we will create a sense of depth in the trident. However, we won’t draw the third one now as it will connect by the use of connecting lines.

Step 2: Adding Connecting Lines

We now will connect the bottom line of the bottom rod to the inside of the top rod. However, the line doesn’t touch the top rod but flows along the inside of the top rod’s shape whilst remaining parallel to the top rod’s lines.

This line will flow along the inside of the top rod and then come out, bend downward and flow into the top line of what will become the third and lowest rod. Take some time with this and make sure each rod is the same in width.

Carrying on with the same line, we want to connect that line to the back of the trident, creating this square shape as a base of the rods. We should start to see the trident forming more clearly at this point.

We should be able to see that the rod can connect with a single line, whereby the bottom line of the bottom rod flows into the back of the trident and the top line of the top rod. We can also connect the bottom line of the top rod to the top line of the middle rod with a vertical line.

Step 3: Adding Three-Dimensionality to the Trident

We now want to draw cylindrical shapes within each rod, giving it a three-dimensional effect. we create this cylindrical shape within each rod with parallel lines that run along the inside of each rod. We want to make sure that the lines curve at the ends of each rod within the trident shape, giving the ends a rounded shape.

As we do this within each rod we will find that the bottom two can be closed at their back ends with a straight line. The top rods inside lines should still flow through to the outside lines of the bottom rod.

From there, we can draw a circle inside the ends of each rod to emphasize the cylindrical shape of the rods a little further. We can also give the trident more three-dimensionality by adding shape to the inside section at the base of the trident by the middle rod.

Step 4: Outlining the Trident

Using a ballpoint pen we now want to outline the structure of the trident to define the form of the shape a little more.

Make sure you patiently go over the lines with your pen, using a ruler for the straight lines.

At this point, we should have an impossible trident optical illusion drawing that is outlined. We now want to emphasize three-dimensionality with some shading.

Step 5: Adding Shading to the Trident

We can now color the circles at the end of each rod black with our pens. We can also start to add shading to each rod creating gradients that flow from dark to light. 

This step is more intuitive and should be done according to how you would like to shade the trident. Play around with different shading directions within the trident to emphasize the strange effect in the impossible trident.

Try creating a seamless gradient within each rod of the trident. This will emphasize the three-dimensional quality of the impossible trident.

Take your time and see how the lines flow and where they should be closed off. Otherwise, there you have it – a simple few steps on how to draw an impossible trident!

How to Draw a Distorted Chess Board

The distorted chess board is a less common optical illusion but it is fun and easy to draw. The 3D illusion drawing creates a strange effect when looked at for a long time. Let’s see how we can create this simple illusion drawing.

Step 1: Drawing the Square

We start by drawing an even square that is whatever size you would like. However, we want to make sure that it is even in length and width. From there, we can draw a diagonal line connecting to opposite corners in the square.

We then want to add evenly measured increments along all sides of the square and a long diagonal line within the square. We want to add a little dot of evenly measured increments that correlate with the size of the square.

This means that if your square is 16 cm, use a set of 1- or 2-cm increments along the edges of the box. This way, once we start drawing our lines, they will connect seamlessly in the square.

Step 2: Adding in Lines

From each corner of your square on either side of the diagonal line, you will connect a straight line from the corner to each measured increment along the diagonal line.

We want to take our time using our rulers to connect lines from the corners of the square to the dots along the diagonal line within the square.

We then can proceed to do the same on the other side of the diagonal line, connecting a straight line from the corner of the square to the dots along the diagonal line in the square.

From there, we want to connect the dots with straight lines that run parallel with the diagonal line. We can do this on either side of the diagonal lines, resulting in a set of lines that cross over perpendicularly to the others that flow from the corners of the square.

Step 3: Outlining the Square With Ballpoint Pen

To make the process of filling in the chess board optical illusion much easier we want to go over the lines with a ballpoint pen. By doing so, we give ourselves more distinct lines to color within.

Make sure you use your ruler and slowly go over all the lines. We want to make sure every line is emboldened with a pen.

You want to make sure you take your time so that there aren’t any silly mistakes made with your pen.

Step 4: Filling in the Chess Board

Using a marker, we want to start on one side whereby we fill in the squares with the chess board sequence. Try going row by row, first just marking which square is to be filled in.

Once you have done so, a good suggestion would be to work from the small corners to the middle of the chess board. You want to take your time making sure you don’t color in the white squares.

The more patient you are, the more likely you are to not make any silly mistakes. Make sure you use a ruler to keep the edges of each square clean.

You want to make sure that you don’t smudge any ink as you fill in the correct blocks of the chess pattern. A good suggestion would be to use a piece of paper under your hand as you draw.

And there you have it! Once you have completed filling in the correct blocks, you will have an obscure chess board optical illusion drawing.

How to Draw a Corridor Illusion

The corridor illusion is another less popular optical illusion drawing, however, this one puts your shading to the test. When drawn correctly, the corridors give the effect of moving into the paper, fading into a void. Let’s see how we can create this strange optical illusion effect.

Step 1: Drawing a Three-by-Three Square

We want to start by creating a three-by-three columned and rowed square. we want to make sure that we draw a square that can be divided perfectly into three both in length and height.

Step 2: Drawing Smaller Squares Within the Squares

Once we have our nine squares, we want to use a 1 cm width and draw a square within each of the larger squares. If we use the same width in each square, we should find that the far corners all align with the center square.

Make sure you spend time on this using your ruler and the same width for each square so that they are accurate. You can draw a line from opposite corners to see if they intersect perfectly in the middle square, if they do then they are accurate.