Word of the Week
Tessellation (tess-uh-lay-shun): A pattern formed by repeated shapes over a surface without gaps or overlaps. It comes from the Latin word tesselate meaning "to pave."
Salve!
As many of you already know, I love to read. I appreciate all types of literature. . .and the arts! I think it's important to share the works of other authors and artists I admire. And that's just what I'm going to do this week!
Who is M. C. Escher???
Self Portrait from 1935 taken from
(Click the link to learn even more about him and see more of his work!)
Mauritis Cornelius Escher was born in Holland in 1898.
He studied graphic art.
He illustrated books in the 1920s.
He traveled with his wife and found inspiration in both the landscapes of Italy and the architecture of Spain.
In the 1940s, he became more interested in space, math, and illusion. These became some of the works he is most widely known for.
He continued to paint word clouds, repeating patterns and reality bending shapes, until 1968.
He died in 1972.
So, what about tessellations? Here's a look at one of Escher's intricate works, Lizard taken from M.C. Escher and Tessellations (mathandart.com).
My challenge to you this week is to create your very own tessellation! You'll find my unfinished attempt below. Don't worry, I plan on finishing! I just wanted you to see the work in progress. As I'm sure you could have guessed, I chose to make my pattern dogs! I love those furry little creatures.
I'm no artist, so for me, it was easiest to make a template I could trace and fit together.
Now- go have some fun, and let your creativity shine on!
Until next time. . .
Gram