Blue+Bird,+Red+Bird+2010



=** “ **Blue ** Bird, ** Red ** Bird” **=

=By: Courtney Baker=

When the tessellation project was given, it seemed very intimidating and hard. Once the definition and how to create a tessellation was clear, it became relatively easier. A tessellation is a repeating pattern that completely covers a surface with no gaps, holes, or any overlapping sections. They often provide interesting pattern designs. There are three types of tessellations; rotation, reflection, and translation. The tessellation I chose was translation.

A translation tessellation is where the template that is made is just slid across the grid, no flips or turns, just slid next to one another. In order to make the template, I had to draw a design across the top, and a design across the left side. Then, I cut out the design from both sides and the top piece then went to the bottom, and the left piece then went to the right side. The purpose of the square grid that I created was to line up the edges of the template with the corner so I could trace, and it would be even every time. Overall, I believe that I did this process very well.

My design turned out to be Blue Jays and Cardinals, which is why I ended up calling my project “ Blue  Bird, Red Bird”. I chose to make birds out of the shape mainly because the shape didn’t resemble anything else. Also because there is a lot of color choice, and choice in general with birds. At the beginning of this project, I didn’t think it was going to end up being a bird, I wanted to make an elephant or a dog, but now that I finished, I’m glad my design turned out to be birds.

Even though symmetry isn’t the first subject that comes to mind when seeing a tessellation, it is still present. There are four types of symmetry; H, M, S, and B symmetry. In my tessellation, there isn’t a specific type of symmetry, but M symmetry appears to be the one closest to it. M symmetry is when the right side is a mirror image of the left, but the top is not a mirror of the bottom. The letters A and V also have the M symmetry.

Overall, this project was creative, fun, and interesting. I was able to c o l o r  and be creative to think of an object while learning how to create tessellations and use the parallel lines to construct my grid. I learned that there are many types of tessellations, ways to make them, and symmetries. The finished product looks really great, and exactly how a tessellation should look, no gaps or overlapping areas. There are many reasons that make tessellations seem hard, but in all honesty they are fun and interesting!