1. TESSELATIONS

2. Who is Escher?
Maurits Cornelius Escher is a very popular artist, and many people recognize his work from posters and calendars. He was born on the 17th of June, in 1898, in Leeuwarden, Netherlands (Holland). Escher studied at the School of architecture and Decorative Arts in Haarlem, Netherlands.

3. Who is Escher?
However, Escher gave up architecture in favor of graphic arts at the age of 21. Escher adopted a highly mathematical approach with a systematic study to his art. His fame began to spread in the 1950's, and his work began to be displayed in science museums rather than art galleries. Escher died on the 27th of March, He was an amazing artist, and the "King" of Tessellations"

4. What is a Tessellation?
Patterns are made up of repeating shapes or forms. In some patterns a shape is repeated over and over again. In other patterns they may repeat then vary into another form or design.
A Tessellation is an example of a repeating pattern where shapes fit together in a way that leaves no space in between.
The term tessellation comes from the Latin word tessella, meaning tile.

5. Alhambra Palace, Spain
Escher was influenced by the tessellated patterns in the Alhambra palace. It is a well-known Islamic architectural marvel which is located in Granada, Spain. Its floors, walls, and ceilings are covered with tessellations and other repeating patterns.

6. Tessellations in real life

7. Creating a shape to tessellate
To begin you must first design a shape that will fit together with itself, or another shape, so that your tessellation will have no negative space when you create a pattern with your shape.
One method is to translate a shape across and down to fill the paper.
To do this you may start your shape with a rectangle or square. To begin working out a new shape, you will remove pieces from your rectangle. Any piece you remove must be re attached on the opposite side of your rectangle.
Step 1 – make stencil
Step 2 – trace and repeat

8. Other methods of tessellating
From Drawing Visual Illusions

9. Other methods of tessellating
From Drawing Visual Illusions

10. Assignment
Keep playing around with different shapes until a recognizable image can be derived. This will take patience and creativity. It is similar to the composition creativity sheets. Push yourself to challenge how you are looking at the shape you are developing. This creative stage is the most important part of the assignment. Your overall success of your tessellation is built on this shape.
Once you have your shape, create a stencil from it. It is very important to be mathematically correct with your shape. Measure and cut accurately. Use scrap portfolio paper, and cut and tape the shapes from your rectangle to create your new shape.
Think about how the tessellations will fit onto the 18” x 12” paper and what size your tessellating shape should be at the start.
Plan what colour theories and combinations you will use for the design.