Mosaic and Tessellated Patterns: How to Create Them, with 32 Plates to Color

By John Willson

As old as ancient Rome, tessellated patterns can be seen in many places today: in Victor Vasarely's black-and-white paintings, in the designs of Ensor Holiday and M. C. Escher, in Spirograph drawings, and even in computer. John Willson, a research chemist, artist, and teacher, has been creating these dazzling "op art" designs for years. Now, he brings his special expertise to this unusual coloring book. Here you'll find complete information on tessellations and their creation, including:
• Definition of a tessellation
• History of tessellated designs, beginning with their origin in Rome
• Basic kinds of tessellations and how they are formed
• Detailed instructions for creating your own unique designs from common geometrical shapes
A full 179 figures illustrate the clearly written text. Also included is a special section of 32 full-page plates of tessellations, ready to be colored any way you wish. This is your best introduction to an unusual and rewarding pastime that will afford you many hours of creative satisfaction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Release date: Mar 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9780486136332

Book preview

For Christopher, Katharine and Jonathan.

Plates follow page 14

Descriptive list of plates appears on page 30

Copyright © 1983 by John Willson. All rights reserved under Pan American and International Copyright Conventions.

Mosaic and Tessellated Patterns: How to Create Them/With 32 Plates to Color is a new work, first published by Dover Publications, Inc., in 1983.

DOVER Pietorial Archive SERIES

This book belongs to the Dover Pictorial Archive Series. You may use the designs and illustrations for graphics and crafts applications, free and without special permission, provided that you include no more than four in the same publication or project. (For permission for additional use, please write to Dover Publications, Inc., 31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, N.Y. 11501.)

However, republication or reproduction of any illustration by any other graphic service whether it be in a book or in any other design resource is strictly prohibited.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Dover Publications, Inc., 31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, N.Y. 11501

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Willson, John Scott.

Mosaic and tessellated patterns.

(Dover pictorial archive series)

1. Decoration and ornament. 2. Optical art.

3. Tessellations (Mathematics). I. Title. II. Series.

NK1570.W5 1983 745.4 82-9557

9780486136332

Table of Contents

Title Page

Dedication

Copyright Page

What Is a Tessellation?

DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF PLATES

What Is a Tessellation?

A Roman mosaic consisted of many small stones which were laid edge to edge to cover a surface, such as a wall or a floor. These tiles were called tesserae, and the term tessellation is now used for any arrangement of shapes that completely covers a surface. This technique of space-filling can be seen in paved or parquet flooring, in ceramic tiling and in stained-glass windows. Tessellations even occur naturally on some crystal surfaces and in many cellular structures such as honeycombs. Tessellation is a form of design which has been used for thousands of years. Patterns found in a Roman villa in Greece, an Islamic mosque in Iran and the Alhambra palace in Spain are shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Similar designs occur in many other countries which have

Reviews for Mosaic and Tessellated Patterns

[MercedesArroyo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Porque las explicaciones son claras, y los diseños elegidos son hermosos!