Creating and Designing Tessellating Figures Tessellations Creating and Designing Tessellating Figures

Circle Use of repeating diamonds and colors.

Seahorse Seahorse design in only two colors makes an optical illusion.

Dogs The red, white, and blue images of repeating a dog design.

Fish Orange and Blue Fish Design.

Airplane Hawk Airplane Design.

3D or 2D? You decide! These hexagons made by using 3 parallelograms make an illusion of a cube. Filled in with triangles that give the illusion of diamonds.

Kangaroos Kangaroos… but what are they hiding? Yes they are forming Australia.

Checkerboard A Checkerboard is the most basic of the tessellating figures.

Letters Even letters can show a tessellating pattern.

Basic 3D Cube

Getting Started Start with your basic design of a square or rectangle and divide it into sections.

Decide on a design You must then chose the main design that you are looking to make your tessellating figure. This will be the main focal point of the design. Make a main pattern on cardboard and cut out. This will be your tracing tool.

Drawing It is time to begin practicing the design within the sections. Draw the figure on paper and notice how you can extend outside the boxes. That portion will then be deleted in your final project.

Color Remember that color is a very important piece of the tessellation. Be sure to chose the combination of colors that work best for your figure. Be sure that the color matches the design and must tessellate just like the design.

If you are ready… Now it is time to create your final product. You will need your tessellation design, a cardboard pattern to trace, and your color choices decided. Trace your tessellation design onto the tile just as you did on the paper. Color your tile just as before. Final coating over the paint

AND FINALLY Your designs will be placed back into the ceiling for all to view. Congratulations on finishing your final project!