Long-Awaited 2D Pattern

    This next project explored our ability to use tools that would allow us to expand our basic skills and knowledge working first in 2D. I was really excited for this project because we were tasked to build a pattern you would find outside of nature, and to me, I leaned into making a version of fabric pattern imagery that would interest me. Below I've posted some inspiration from Liberty London's eccentric take on William Morris' Strawberry Thief:






https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/tufted-anjulie-rug?color=095&type=REGULAR&quantity=1&size=3ft%20x%205ft

    I first started drawing sketches on my iPad that could be transferred to Rhino as images. I used the curve through points control to trace my shapes. I did this for my beginning curves because all of the drawing items formed organically and less rigidly. I used the fillet tool next to even out my curves so that each character (plant/animal) could share some commonalities in their structure. 

 
my sketches

creating curves through points
    After making a few main characters, I began to assemble the scene for which my pattern will be made up of. Free-handing new parts to the images in the program, I learned that it was reasonably easy to do so. Once I was unsure where else to go with the items assembled in the square parameter, I decided it was time to move the pieces around to fill in the negative space with the same technique used to make repeating patterns in printmaking. First, measuring the quadrilateral parameter, I used the linear dimension tool to measure and then divide up the square. I then snapped from end to end the four smaller squares to fit inside the main shape and over the design curves in the center. I then selected all and exploded the curves so that I could highlight all of the shapes in each individual box and use the move command to snap the boxes in the new order shown below:





    Once the squares were in the proper configuration, I selected all of the bordering curves and used the hide command to keep them safe for later. I then drew in the remaining characters and aspects to the overall piece, and once I was content, I practiced an array to make sure my repeating pattern of curves was functioning correctly. 


    Following a reset to one frame of the repeating pattern, command Z, I moved on to hatching each space and labeling each section tediously without directly caring about the choice of colour. 


    Making sure that every space in the frame had a single complete hatch filling the section and no redundant hatches or curves occurred, I arrayed again and then played with the colour changes. I struggled here to keep or remove the curves themselves as part of the pattern for fine detail. I eventually created two categories- one for curves hidden later and another layer for curves to keep in the image. In the end, I decided that for this to function best as a mass repeated pattern, some finite details may have to suffer so the picture as a whole can be more easily depicted. But I didn't want to settle for a complete lack of detail, so this final decision was to change both curve layer colours, so there was some differentiation. It was fun to learn that it is possible to include curves in your design and change colours, much like hatching. 



Lots and lots of colour testing occurred.

After performing the final array with the colours all laid out nicely, I decided to add some variation to the large flowers to create some additional texture using the change layer function.



Final Image/ Pattern below:




Most Commands Used:


join

trim

move

fillet

copy

rotate

mirror

array

match

hatch

change layer

offset

polar array




Fun had: 10/10

Comments

Post a Comment