Tessellation and ART 100
This was not my first exposure to tessellation. I was first introduced to tessellation back
in my geometry class. This was a math
project that I had a hard time with because I was not very creative. I did like the mathematical portion and the symmetrical
aspect of tessellation. While creating
the image and design can be difficult the actual construction is what I found
most challenging. Because everything in
tessellation has to be so precise the only way to truly make a perfect
tessellation is to copy the image directly.
I tried with my own tessellation project to just trace the image and I
did not get the precise results that I wanted.
I was able to get the basics feel for a tessellation but I knew it could
have been better.
While working in this class I discovered many new ways to enhance different art pieces like tessellation. I really liked using the Japanese design concept of Notan in my art pieces. This is the idea of placement of light and dark and mirror images. This use of light and dark takes a two dimensional image and has the ability to make it pop like it is three dimensional. Traditionally presented in ink or paint, Notan is a very easy art form to use and that was why I liked it. I was able to take a simple art piece and make it stand out with the use of black and white coloring. This is helpful in tessellation with the coloring because it can help bring different shapes and patterns into the forefront that the artist might not think of as a major part of the piece.
I was also able utilize the incorporation of a single color to make a new focal point on an art piece. I did this with using black, white, and red. This caused the viewer to focus on the red aspect of the piece and saw the black and white as the background. This can also help a tessellation because the use of color again can help distinguish between the main patterns and the background. This can make the background images pop out and become the focal point.
This class has also taught be basic art principles like organic and geometric shapes. While working throughout this class I was able to play with both kinds of shapes. I found that while organic shapes were easy to draw and did not follow any set of rules making a cohesive piece of art out of entirely organic shapes was very difficult for me. I was able to make most of my art pieces out of geometric shapes. I liked using geometric shapes because I knew what they were supposed to look like. I was able to use a ruler to make straight lines to create something that I knew people would recognize. In tessellation while it is possible to use organic shapes, it is much easier to use geometric shapes. I was able to squares to make my own tessellation. I have also used circles and parallelograms for past tessellations.
I have learned a lot about the use of color in this class. I was able to utilize a lot of color in my own tessellation. I was to use green, blue, red, and yellow to make a chain link effect for a tessellation. The use of color is very important in tessellation. It can highlight different aspects of the art piece that the artist was not expecting. The use of warm and cool colors helps define the mood of the painting and can give meaning to the piece that while only in black and white would not mean as much.
Another great technique I learned this semester was the use of overlapping shapes. It gives the two dimensional piece some three dimensional qualities. I think of it as the “send to back” button on PowerPoint. I was able to enhance some shapes and move some to the back. I was able to do this with my tessellation piece as well. I had the different colors overlapping one another to create the chain link effect.
While working in this class I had the chance to work with new materials that I had not thought of using before. I was introduced to the ways of shading a simple pencil to give the effect of shadows. I was able to use this to help define certain shapes and give depth to others. I was able use paint for the first time. I was able to see how different brush strokes would create different patterns and texture that would enhance the painting. I used pens and charcoal to create other pieces as well. Tessellation pieces can be created with any medium.
While working in this class I discovered many new ways to enhance different art pieces like tessellation. I really liked using the Japanese design concept of Notan in my art pieces. This is the idea of placement of light and dark and mirror images. This use of light and dark takes a two dimensional image and has the ability to make it pop like it is three dimensional. Traditionally presented in ink or paint, Notan is a very easy art form to use and that was why I liked it. I was able to take a simple art piece and make it stand out with the use of black and white coloring. This is helpful in tessellation with the coloring because it can help bring different shapes and patterns into the forefront that the artist might not think of as a major part of the piece.
I was also able utilize the incorporation of a single color to make a new focal point on an art piece. I did this with using black, white, and red. This caused the viewer to focus on the red aspect of the piece and saw the black and white as the background. This can also help a tessellation because the use of color again can help distinguish between the main patterns and the background. This can make the background images pop out and become the focal point.
This class has also taught be basic art principles like organic and geometric shapes. While working throughout this class I was able to play with both kinds of shapes. I found that while organic shapes were easy to draw and did not follow any set of rules making a cohesive piece of art out of entirely organic shapes was very difficult for me. I was able to make most of my art pieces out of geometric shapes. I liked using geometric shapes because I knew what they were supposed to look like. I was able to use a ruler to make straight lines to create something that I knew people would recognize. In tessellation while it is possible to use organic shapes, it is much easier to use geometric shapes. I was able to squares to make my own tessellation. I have also used circles and parallelograms for past tessellations.
I have learned a lot about the use of color in this class. I was able to utilize a lot of color in my own tessellation. I was to use green, blue, red, and yellow to make a chain link effect for a tessellation. The use of color is very important in tessellation. It can highlight different aspects of the art piece that the artist was not expecting. The use of warm and cool colors helps define the mood of the painting and can give meaning to the piece that while only in black and white would not mean as much.
Another great technique I learned this semester was the use of overlapping shapes. It gives the two dimensional piece some three dimensional qualities. I think of it as the “send to back” button on PowerPoint. I was able to enhance some shapes and move some to the back. I was able to do this with my tessellation piece as well. I had the different colors overlapping one another to create the chain link effect.
While working in this class I had the chance to work with new materials that I had not thought of using before. I was introduced to the ways of shading a simple pencil to give the effect of shadows. I was able to use this to help define certain shapes and give depth to others. I was able use paint for the first time. I was able to see how different brush strokes would create different patterns and texture that would enhance the painting. I used pens and charcoal to create other pieces as well. Tessellation pieces can be created with any medium.