Lesson 7: Tessellation

Objective: To have children create a tessellation using shapes and colors.

Vocabulary:

interlocking - Having parts that fit together.

negative shape - In a two-dimensional artwork, the shape of the empty areas around subjects.

overlapping - The placement of objects in-front or behind to partly cover other objects. Artists use overlapping to show which objects are closest to the viewer.

positive shape - In a two-dimensional artwork, the shapes of the subjects that have empty areas around them.

space - The area or distance around, between, and within objects.

tessellation - A pattern of shapes that fit together without overlapping and without having empty spaces between them.

The Lesson by David Stoeckleinphotograph

Positive and Negative Shapes

Each subject in an two-dimensional (2D) artwork has a shape. Point out one of the subjects in The Lesson by David Stoecklein. The shape of a subject is a positive shape. The shape of the empty space around the subject is a negative shape. Positive and negative shapes fit together like puzzle pieces.

Positive and Negative Patterns
Look at the pattern of positive shapes in The Lesson. Trace with your finger the pattern of negative shapes between the cowboys. Positive shapes overlap when part of one shape covers part of another shape. Where are the overlapping shapes in this photograph?

Symmetry Drawing E55 by M. C. Escher1942, ink and watercolor on paper220 mm x 205 mm

Tessellations
The fish shapes in Symmetry Drawing E55 by M. C. Escher fit together perfectly without overlapping. They form an interlocking pattern called a tessellation. In a tessellation, subjects have no empty space around them. Can you find any negative shapes in Symmetry Drawing E55?
Look back at The Lesson. Notice how the cowboys seem closer to the viewer than the empty areas around them do. Now look at Symmetry Drawing E55. Which fish seems closer to the viewer? If you look closely at one color of fish, those fish seem to be closest to you. Looking closely at one group of shapes in a tessellation makes them appear to be positive shapes.

Modular Painting in Four Panels by Roy Lichtenstein1969, oil on canvas108" x 108"The Lowe Art Museum, Miami, FL, USA

Some artists use geometric shapes to make tessellations like Modular Painting in Four Panels by Roy Lichtenstein. Name the geometric shapes you see in Modular Painting in Four Panels. Notice how they tessellate, or fit together, without overlapping and without leaving spaces between them.

Do the shapes shown below tessellate?

Explain why the shapes shown here do not tessellate?

Think Critically - Tell what you learned.

Studio Time: Tessellation

Materials:

Graph Paper, Rulers, Pencils, Markers

Plan

Think of ways you could create a tessellation using geometric shapes. Remember that in a tessellation, none of the shapes overlap and there are no spaces between shapes.
Check list:
- Repeat an interlocking shape to make a pattern.
- Choose a color scheme.

Color Schemes

Create

Use a ruler to draw diagonal lines through the squares on a piece of graph paper.
Outline the shapes that are part of your tessellation.

3. Choose a color scheme, and then use markers to color the shapes of your tessellation.

Reflect - Tell about your artwork.

Photograph and Submit your artwork on Google Classroom.

Photograph sketches as well as completed artwork.
"Add" (attach) to Google Classroom assignment.
"Mark as done" to submit your work for a grade.

Challenge: Organic Tessellation

Create a tessellation by cutting two squares into interlocking shapes, use the cut-outs to complete the pattern by tracing the tessellation.

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