Ready to blow your mind with some seriously cool optical illusion heart coloring pages? These mesmerizing designs are perfect for Valentine’s Day and will have kids (and adults!) amazed at how a simple coloring technique can create such an incredible 3D effect!
The checkered background pattern combined with the dimensional heart creates an eye-popping illusion that looks like it’s jumping right off the page. It’s part art project, part magic trick, and 100% fun!
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These optical illusion coloring pages are perfect for older kids, as while easy to make do require some patience when it comes to coloring. The result is so impressive, you’ll want to frame it!
How to Color the Optical Illusion Heart
What you need:
- our printable optical illusion heart coloring page template
- coloring supplies (markers, colored pencils, or crayons)
- pencil or black colored pencil
Step by Step Coloring Tutorial
Print the template. Print out the optical illusion heart coloring page. There are a few different ones to choose from, but all are colored in the same way to achieve the 3D effect.
Choose your colors. Pick two contrasting colors for the best optical illusion effect! This is a great opportunity to talk about contrasting colors or even warm and cool colors. We’re using red and yellow, but you can try pink and white, blue and yellow, green and white, or any combination you love. The key is having good contrast between the two colors.
Start coloring the background. Begin with the checkered background pattern. Color alternating squares in your first color (we’re using yellow first). This creates the checkerboard effect that makes the illusion work!
Complete the background pattern. Now fill in the remaining background squares with your second color (red). Keep following that checkered pattern all the way around!
Color the heart sections. Here’s where the magic happens! Start coloring the dimensional sections of the heart. Follow the curved lines and alternate between your two colors.
Note: you can keep alternating across the whole heart, or mirror the pattern on the heart.
Add depth with shading. This is where the true magic happens. With a pencil or black colored pencil, add some shading to the bottom and sides of the heart. This makes it look like it’s really popping off the page! Don’t press the pencil too hard, make gentle strokes and slowly make the shading.
Continue adding shadows where the heart would naturally cast them. This enhances the 3D illusion and makes it look super realistic!
Gently add shading inside the heart as well. We’re starting at the bottom.
Next, also add some shading at the top and the sides. Be gentle with the pencil to give it a transparent look.
Optional: finish up by giving your heart glow – use a white colored pencil or chalk pastels to add a few curved lines.
Optical Illusion Coloring Pages
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