Escher
I like Escher's work, but I was dreading this challenge. In the end I decided to try making my own tesselation, just to see how it worked. I started with a hexagon and tried some really simple designs, getting a little more complex each time. I enjoyed playing with the tesselations and in the end had eight or nine designs, the simplest being too simple and the more complex ones not being very interesting. This was the only one that I felt I could do anything with. I thought it would be quick and simple to make too. I first quilted the motifs from the back, as it was much easier to see the markings on the white backing fabric. Then I painted them with iridescent fabric paint (it is difficult to see the iridescence on the photo and I haven't been able to capture the colours accurately). I had more trouble making it than I thought, as I made a mess of transferring the design and had to start all over again. It took me four times as long to paint it than I thought it would, by which time I was thoroughly bored with it, and in hindsight I think it would have prefered to have printed it. Originally I was going to paint all the shapes, but realized it would be better to leave a black border for more contrast, but by then I had painted the bronze shapes in the middle row up to the edge. I made a mistake in the final cutting and the design is not centred, which annoys me: they say to measure twice, cut once, but I am geometrically challenged and despite my rule of measure at least five times and cut once, I still managed to make a dog's dinner of it!
That is quite a complex tessellation for you to have created Jinnie. I think you've done a great job of it.
ReplyDeleteIt's not as complex as it looks. Once I'd got my head round how the simple ones work, it was just a case of taking a simple shape out and putting it on the opposite side of the hexagon.
DeleteJinnie, I felt an "Eek" too when Escher was announced as our artist but we obviously both found a way to interpret him . I also liked the idea of tessellating and wish I had thought of painting mine . You have used such a good colour combination and I love the metallic look of the paint .Did you use the Jacquard Lumiere paint ? Whatever you used gives the piece a wonderful glow . I don't think it matters if a tessellation piece is not centred as it supposed to be endless isn't it?
ReplyDeleteTessellation is a lot harder than it looks which is why I didn't do much of it! I like the way your bronze guys march off the page, keeps the eye moving.
ReplyDeleteWell done. You have a lot more perseverance and determination than I can boast. Love what you have done and more so the fact that you have not contained the tessellation. Great.
ReplyDeleteJinnie, I love that you created your very own tessellating shape. Great decision to use metallic paint, too. No dog's dinner here - the little gold shapes are holding on to the edge in case the whole lot decide to dance away. They almost remind me of those little game pieces for playing 'Jacks'.
ReplyDeleteHilary
Don't be too hard on yourself Jinnie, I think it is a lovely piece and your idea of painting it was inspired. I too am geometrically challenged that is why I don't do much traditional quilting which tends to frustrate and irritate me. I really admire your determination and perserverance and the end result is a piece you can be really proud of. Well done.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the group...your piece is NOT bow wow chow! Ha In fact, I love to hear your process leading up to completion of this challenge! Tessellations are mathematically difficult and yet you accomplished your own design very effectively! Congratulations!
ReplyDelete