How to Make Optical Illusions With Paper or Pencils

Simple optical illusions can be drawn on paper.

If you possess enough artistic talent to draw with perspective, you can create all sorts of optical illusions. Classic illusions include the spiraling cone and cube, both of which alternately seem to point inward then outward. Another easily drawn illusion is a wine glass that can also appear as a pair of faces peering closely at one another. Even with minimal artistic talent, an easy illusion you can create is of a bird in a cage, where the bird and the cage are actually separate drawings.

Things You'll Need

• Paper or index cards
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Tape

Instructions

Bird in a Cage Illusion

1. Cut out two squares of paper, roughly four square inches each, or just use index cards. On one card, draw an image of a bird in the middle. The basic outline shape of a bird is sufficient.

2. In the center of the other card or piece of paper, draw an empty birdcage. Make it large enough to fit the bird you sketched.

3. Tape your pencil to the back of one of the cards. The pencil must be longer than the card so that its end sticks down, making the card look like a tiny yard sign.

4. Now tape the other card/picture to the back of the first card so that the pencil is between them and the images face outward on each side.

5. Hold the pencil between your hands and rub vigorously, causing the cards on top to rotate back and forth. As they flip quickly before your eyes, it will appear as if there is a single image floating before your eyes, that of a bird inside a cage. This apparent image is an optical illusion.

References

• School of Bob: Optical Illusion Sequence