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Art Concept: Pattern/Repetition/Variation. Artists often use repeated items or patterns in order to make an interesting design for many different effects. Pattern and repetition also help create a unified composition and stability in the picture. Variation of the pattern adds interest to the work of art.
Pattern: a principle of design; the repetition of the elements of visual arts in an organized way; pattern and rhythm are both created through repetition; see rhythm for examples of regular, alternating, random, and progressive rhythmic patterns .
Repetition: the repeated use of particular elements of visual arts to create a pattern, movement, rhythm, or unity .
Variety: the use of the elements of visual arts to create differences in an artwork for visual interest .
Teaching notes: First graders really know about patterns. They will probably want to say if it’s ABAB, etc., which is obviously a different way of describing pattern since it is only linear. Concentrate on the ideas of Repetition and Variation. Ask which shapes, objects or colors are repeated. Which are variations and how are they varied?
Printable PDF showing examples of different patterns.
Coca-Cola Bottles, Andy Warhol (American), 1962. Identical shapes. Repetition with small variations of color.
Black Face and Arm Unit, Ben Jones (American), 1971. Great variations in colors and slight variations in shape.
Still-life with Figs and Bread, Melendez (Spanish). Circles repeated throughout composition.
Flying Horses, Escher (Dutch), 1959. Intricate, interlocking pattern of repeated flying horses.
Expectation, Gustav Klimt (Viennese), 1905. Repeated patterns in background and foreground.
Lindesfarne Gospels 698, Intricate pattern and repeated shapes and lines.
Golconda, Magritte (French), 1953. Repeated figure in different sizes.
New Guinea Festival, 20th c. Variation of a theme but enough is unified that the pattern is obvious.
Composition in Blue B, Mondrian (Dutch), 1917. Repeated squares of different sizes and colors.
A Hundred Monkeys, Wang Yani (Japanese), 1984. Repeated monkeys – all different.
Inca Burial Mantle, (Peru) 1470-1535. Intricate pattern in color and shape.
Carpet, Maqsud Kashani (Iran), 1539. Intricate pattern.
St. Basil, Moscow, 1555. Repeated shapes – great variation of color and form.
Venetian Floor, (Italy) 14th C. Mosaic pattern using different colors and shapes.
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