Maurits Cornelis Escher was a Dutch artist who made mathematically inspired art. The very first time I saw an Escher, I knew that he would become one of my favourite artists. He would often use a technique called tessellation to create a picture where the images morph into each other. Look at this piece where the birds interlock creating a stunning visual delight!
I thought it would be fun to create our own nature tessellation art. A tessellation is an arrangement of shapes closely fitted together, without gaps or overlapping. A tiled surface is a great example of where we see tessellations every day.
To create a tessellation you can use geometric shapes, like the ones in the pattern above, or you can create your own irregular shape, like the ones in Escher’s Two Birds.
To create your own, start with a rectangle or square. Cut out a shape on one side of the square/rectangle. Take the shape you have just cut and tape it on the opposite side. You can do this again, taking from one side and adding to the other. You can see below how I created the template for my Parrot tessellation.
You can also watch a video, which shows you step by step how to create a shape which will tessellate.
When you have created a shape you are happy with, trace it onto cardboard and cut it out. You now have a template to trace. Use this template to draw your design and then paint or colour it, to finish off your work.
This is my finished Parrot painting.
I have created a template for you to download of my parrot shape. You can download it here.
We would love to see your creations. Email through your finished art to jo.mathinnature@gmail.com and we will add it to our gallery!
Don’t forget our 2021 Art and Photography competition is open to Australian entries from Oct 22 to Nov 26. If you have had fun creating a Parrot tessellation, you can enter your creation using the entry form HERE.
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