The summary of ‘How to Make an Agamograph | Optical Kinetic Art Lesson Inspired by Yaacov Agam’

This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.

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The video provides a detailed tutorial on creating an agamograph, an artwork that changes images as the viewer moves, a technique popularized by artist Yakov Agam. The process begins by creating two or more artworks, then cutting them into strips and attaching them to an accordion-folded base made from larger paper. The presenter emphasizes precise folding into hills and valleys, and secure taping techniques to maintain the structure. The theme "Opposites Attract" guides the artwork's design, combining contrasting elements like color schemes and line orientations. Steps include marking, cutting, and gluing strips while maintaining order, using Elmer's glue to avoid smearing. Final touches involve adding black strips for a clean edge and mounting the piece. The video invites viewer interaction and subscriptions for more tutorials.

00:00:00

In this part of the video, the presenter demonstrates how to create an agamograph, a type of artwork that shows different images as the viewer moves past it. This piece transforms between two or more images, named after the artist Yakov Agam, known for optical and kinetic art. The process involves creating two separate pieces of art, cutting them into equal strips, and attaching them to an accordion-folded sheet. For a three-image agamograph, the paper is folded to create hills and valleys, with each image placed on different parts of the folds. The presenter uses 9 by 12 inch paper for each painting and 12 by 18 inch sheets for the base, demonstrating how the paper is folded and attached using tape, with dots marked at each inch for precise folding.

00:03:00

In this segment of the video, the creator demonstrates the process of folding paper along pencil lines to form hills and valleys. The focus is on carefully making initial folds and ensuring they are accurate. After folding, the creator emphasizes the importance of taping the pieces to maintain the shape of the hills and valleys. A squiggly line is used to overlap sections before taping, ensuring the tape will not be visible later when the actual paintings are layered over the constructions. The creator explains the method for securely taping the hills by applying tape at three points on the back, making the structure firm.

00:06:00

In this segment of the video, the presenter demonstrates the technique of manipulating and taping down paper to create a base for a three-dimensional artwork, described as having “Hills” and “Valleys.” Each “Valley” will hold a separate piece of art, allowing for nine 9×12 inch artworks in total. The paper, which is being taped, will eventually be glued to another surface to prevent curling.

The theme, “Opposites Attract,” requires students to choose two contrasting elements—in this case, cool colors and horizontal lines versus warm colors and diagonal lines. Students must find commonalities between their opposites to create a cohesive central piece. The presenter uses watercolors to blend colors and outlines images with Sharpie to prevent smudging. The technique involves working on three paintings simultaneously to ensure efficient use of time and to avoid wet areas bleeding into each other.

00:09:00

In this part of the video, the creator explains the process of assembling a gamma graph from painted strips. Key steps include marking one-inch increments on the backside of the dried paintings, labeling each painting (A, B, and C), and numbering each strip accordingly. When cutting the strips, maintaining their order is crucial. The gamma graph is prepared with spaces labeled from right to left, and the strips are glued starting with the center pieces. Elmer’s liquid glue is recommended to avoid watercolor smearing, and paper clips can help secure the strips while drying. Ensuring proper alignment of numbers and letters when gluing the strips is essential to avoid mistakes. The process may be tedious, but the final result is rewarding.

00:12:00

In this part of the video, the creator explains the final touches made to their project by gluing strips of black paper on the right and left edges, which blend into the background. They also mention mounting the entire piece onto a black sheet of railroad board, though any color could be used. The video concludes with hopes that viewers enjoyed the tutorial on making an agamagraph, invitations to ask questions in the comments, and a request to subscribe for more art demos and tutorials.

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