Of course, the irony is that the 'three-dimensional' scene is also just a flat drawing. In 'Reptiles', one of his best known works, a reptile leaves a page on which the tessellation is drawn to become part of a three-dimensional scene. Several of Escher's prints play with the fact that his images are only two-dimensional drawings. While Escher designed his tessellations on paper, Robert Fathauer designs his directly on a Macintosh computer. He has used these fractal tessellations as the basis for several prints, including 'Bats and Owls', 'Fractal Fish - Grouped Groupers', and 'Migration'. This latter print is based on a non-hyperbolic tessellation of triangles.Īided by an understanding of fractals, which were not widely recognized as a distinct branch of geometry in Escher's lifetime, Robert Fathauer has discovered hundreds of fractal tessellations, most of which have fractal boundaries. Escher made another print, 'Square Limit', in which similar tiles (shaped the same, but of varying size) become infinitesimally small at the boundary. His best-known attempts at this (his 'Circle Limit' prints) are based on hyperbolic geometry, which he learned about from the mathematician H.S.M. The same basic principle is used in 'Face to Face' to create a number of distinct faces by varying the orientation of three different types of square tiles.Īnother preoccupation of Escher's was his desire to depict an infinite tessellation in a finite print. This features prominently in 'Order and Chaos', in which both ordered and disordered regions are realized using the same two types of tiles. Following the lead of Roger Penrose, who designed tessellating chickens based on his non-periodic Penrose tiles, Robert Fathauer has designed several sets of tiles that fit together in many different combinations.

In Escher's tessellations, the tiles only fit together one way. Escher became famous for his tessellations in which the individual tiles are recognizable motif such as birds and fish. Such fun! We love art.A tessellation is a collection of shapes called tiles that fit together without gaps or overlaps to cover the mathematical plane. I love the rats, ninjas, french bulldogs, and other creations they came up with. My Kids were excited to display and share their tessellation art creations. I love how he added the texture and details with a green Sharpie marker. I love these little dinosaurs my son created with his Tessellation pattern. I loved seeing what my kids came up with! Kids are awesome and will surprise you! Use Sharpie markers to add color and creativity to your patterns. Look at your Tessellations and imagination to create images from the pattern! Turn the page around and study it and try and see what creation comes from your tessellation pattern. Continue to trace the pattern, side to side and up and down, until the sheet is filled with your tessellation pattern. Using a pencil, trace the pattern across the white cardstock sheet. Two times will give you a more intricate tessellation pattern. Let kids create a tessellation pattern by cutting one shape from the side of the square. What You’ll Need to Create Escher Inspired Tessellation Art for Kids:Ĭut out a square from the tag board (or poster board). Then let your kids create some fun Tessellation art with you this summer. He used mathematics to create patterns, and mind blowing art! Take a look and see for yourselves. My kids couldn’t stop saying how “COOL” all his artwork was. This Escher Inspired Tessellation Art for Kids will keep kids busy for hours! Tessellation art is the perfect mix of art and math, and is inspired by Escher, an amazing artist!Įscher combined math and art when creating his masterpieces! This is such a fun way for kids to learn measurement, patterns, and art….all in one.īefore creating with tessellations, we looked at my favorite art pieces by M.C. Escher Inspired Tessellation Art for Kids

M.c. escher tessellation art