Two Canadian tessellation artists. There aren’t that many of us. One in Ontario, the other in BC. No, we have never met, other than through social media and texting. Through these platforms we have learned about many other tessellation artists around the globe. I think Escher would have been impressed with all these artists, influenced by his work. Even corresponding, learning and collaborating with them. He would not have been alone “beyond the garden gate”*.
Which brings me to today. LASTEST UPDATE : May 18, 2023
An impromptu collaboration between the two of us, Jason Panda and Francine Champagne, that is worthy of space a bit more permanent than the 24 hour flash-frenzy/gone-the-next-day, of social media. Jason agrees that a more permanent location is a good idea for this ongoing series.
2023 — The year of the rabbit for the Chinese and Japanese calendar. I pulled out three rabbit tessellations from past years.
All of this it seems, was a spark. Then Jason suggested the challenge. It seems these three nested rabbit shapes inspired Jason. And the journey started. These tessellations and bits of words are all scattered on our respective Instagram accounts. All brought here, to make is easier for you to follow the stream. Francine Champagne on Instagram. Jason Panda on Instagram.
January 1, 2023 : Francine
2023 is the year of the #Rabbit. Here are a few rabbit #tessellations from past years. Rabbit and Chicken Farmer, Rabid Rabbits, and Don’t Swipe my Carrots. One was done in a different app than usual, it has a painterly style to it, #Amaziograph on the iPad, vs. my usual #KaleidoPaint.
Have a great year!
January 10, 2023 : Jason
2023 is the year of the rabbit. However, considering the last few years… I’m going to take more of a tortoise perspective.
And to start this journey… I thought I’d create a Tessellation in response to the wonderful collection of tessellated rabbits by @champagne.francine
February 23, 2023 : Francine
A #tessellation about the Legend of Turtle Island, tag you’re it @kwpanda , built in #symmetry group P6, one 6-way, one 3-way and one 2-way rotations, no mirrors, no glides.
March 2, 2023 : Jason
Atlas… Condemned with the weight of the world. A response to @champagne.francine and now back again!
March 8, 2023 : Francine
Celebrating International Women’s Day 2023, I present to you, in tessellation form of course, my hero “Marjorie Rice and Her Tessellating Pentagon Discoveries”. Tag Mr. Panda @kwpanda. Check the full article on my blog at tessellations dot ca
March 21, 2023 : Jason
A super personal Tessellation Tuesday!
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” – Christopher Reeve
A call and response series with @champagne.francine – Back to you!
March 23, 2023 : Francine
Hmmm, SuperPanda. Faster than a speeding bullet. #Bullettrain. And by influence of my youth, les #bandesdessinees de Jacques Lob, Le #Transperceneige. And the recent Netflix adaptation, #Snowpiercer. And then I lost my train of thought… Ricochet back to you Jason! A #tessellation in #symmetry group P6.
Check often to see our collaboration expand.
Cheers!
April 4, 2023 : Jason
It’s tessellation Tuesday!
@champagne.francine created a train… hmmm… trains go choo choo. You know what else goes choo choo?
Alright! I love it 😍, two of those own the couch here 😂
@champagne.francine and I have one here! So… I will retroactively dedicate this piece to our fluffy friends!
April 17, 2023 : Francine
Fluffy like @kwpanda ‘s dogs and cute as well. Maybe not as cuddly though. For the full Call and Response series, head over to my blog, tessellations dot ca
As with most of my drawings, they start off as scribbles. But an instant of possibilities makes me pursue. I’ve seen some line that might be tweaked, stretched, some body part that might be squeezed in here or there. It’s a game of filling the space as #escher would say. Then there is the decision to be made, on how much detail should be added inside the perimeter. Sometimes, simplicity rules. Sometimes, just a few lines. Sometimes much detail, or placed over a neutral background to let it stand out.
This #hummingbird #tessellation was created using the technique taught in the “THIS WAY — THAT WAY” #symmetry group, aka Pg, my latest class on #skillshare
April 18, 2023 : Jason
It’s Tessellation Tuesday!
Inspired by @champagne.francine ’s colourful birds… I decided to jump into the deep end with the theme!
The tile shape isn’t very complicated which is how I could respond so quickly and spend more time on the colouring. It’s also a fitting topic for the call and response we’ve been exploring!
May 8, 2023 : Francine
This tessellation is based on M.C. Escher’s seahorse watercolour drawing. Giving it a bit of my interpretation/style. I’m still learning symmetry from the Master. In response to @kwpanda’s parrots with a deep dive below to the ocean floor. A symmetry method with four different four-way rotation points.
May 16, 2023 : Jason
Responding to @champagne.francine’s beautiful seahorses, I present – “See… Horse!”
* Footnote from above * “…beyond the garden gate”: In mathematical quarters, the regular division of the plane has been considered theoretically. … [Mathematicians] have opened the gate leading to an extensive domain, but they have not entered this domain themselves. By their very nature they are more interested in the way in which the gate is opened than in the garden lying behind it.
M.C. Escher
Tessellations by Francine Champagne 