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Tessellations Ms. Blaylock What are Tessellations? The word 'tessera' in Latin means a small stone cube. They were used to make up 'tessellata' - the mosaic pictures forming floors in Roman buildings Tessellations refers to pictures or tiles, mostly in the form of animals and other life forms. It covers the surface of a composition iwithout overlapping or leaving gaps. A Roman floor mosaic Tessellations involve using a shape or group of shapes, which are arranged on a composition to create pattern and repetition. Transformations by M C Escher Patterns are everywhere, but not all patterns are tessellations. Henri Matisse uses a lot of pattern Nigerian Adire cloth using a blue dye and starch paste. M. C. Escher Self-Portrait M. C. Escher • Escher was born in Leeuwarden in Holland on June 17th, 1898. • Referred to by his initials which stand for Maurits, Cornelis. • Youngest of 4 brothers. • The family moved to Arnhem where he grew up and went to high school. 'Self Portrait in Chair' - 1920 M. C. Escher: Tessellation Master Escher produced '8 Heads' in 1922 - a hint of things to come. His inspiration… Escher took a boat trip to Spain and went to the Alhambra, an extravagant palace full of pattern. There, he copied many of the tiling patterns. '8 Heads' - 1922 Alhambra Castle One of the most well known example of Muslim architecture. Alhambra consists of palaces built by several rulers, each had his own castle. The Alhambra Palace is a famous example of Moorish architecture. Islamic art does not usually use representations of people, but uses geometric patterns. The idea behind several of the buildings of Alhambra was to create a Paradise on earth. Escher copied many of the designs he saw a Alhambra, adding his own flair M. C. Escher 4 Motifs 1950 Design for Wood Intarsia Panel for Leiden Town Hall, 1940 Tessellation transitions by M. C. Escher Realism & Tessellations Combined • Sometimes, Escher would combine realism and tessellations. • Reptiles is an example of this combination. 'Reptiles' - 1943 Metamorphosis I, 1937 by M. C. Escher Realism & Tessellation Combined Cycle, 1938 by M. C. Escher Realism & Tessellation Combined Day and Night, 1938 by M. C. Escher Realism & Tessellation Combined Escher’s Last Tessellation • His last tessellation was a solution to a puzzle sent to him by Roger Penrose, the mathematician. Escher solved it and, true to form, changed the angular wood blocks into rounded 'ghosts'. Penrose 'Ghosts' - 1971 How do you create a successful tessellation? Begin with a simple geometric shape - the square Change the shape of one side Copy this line on the opposite side Rotate the line and repeat it on the remaining edges Erase the original shape Add lines to the inside of the shapes to turn them into pictures. Add color to enhance your picture. By repeating your shape you create a tessellated picture How do you create a more complex tessellation? Draw a line that separates the two hidden shapes you have found. Add a few lines that bring out your hidden shapes. Make four versions of each shape, each version with more detail The most detailed shape can be changed quite a bit Make four versions of each shape with more detail The most detailed shape can be changed quite a bit Color all of one type of shape the same basic color scheme Line up the simplest shape with the most complex along the bottom Add the next row in the same way Completed Tessellation