A tessellation is any geometric pattern that can be repeated infinitely, interlocking with itself to form a seamless field. These designs can be as simple as a common puzzle piece or as complex as the art of M.C. Escher, which featured pages of interlocking birds, fish, and other designs. Given that the results can be so complex, it's a bit surprising that the steps to make a tessellation are straightforward and can be picked up in a few minutes. As you practice, you will be able to make increasingly intricate patterns.
Instructions
1. Draw a square in the middle of your paper. A square is a simple tessellation because you can fill a page with squares stacked top to bottom and left to right. This process should make a tessellation at the end of each step.
2. Change two opposite lines of the square in exactly the same way. For example, erase the top of your square and replace it with an upward pointing angle, like the roof of a house. Erase the bottom line and replace it with an identical upward pointing angle. This shape is a tessellation because it can be stacked on itself.
3. Change the other initial lines of the square. They must be identical to each other, but not necessarily to the lines you have already changed. For example, you could replace the left and right sides of the shape with identical "s"-shaped curves (again, facing in the same direction).
4. Repeat this process as many times as you like to make a tessellation more complex. Adding smaller and smaller details.
5. Add interior details like texture or facial features if you want to make a tessellation look like an animal or other common form.
6. Make a tiled drawing of your tessellation if you like, by tracing the shape on tracing paper. Move the paper so that the shapes interlock, and trace as many more copies as you want.
