11-02

Quicklinks to all course lessons: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Lesson 11 Sections: 11-1 11-2 11-3 11-4 11-5 11-JFF 11-IDEA

A11-02: Principles of Art and Design: Pattern

Objectives:

Understand what pattern is, compared to rhythm and movement.
Learn how to work with patterns in Photoshop CC 2020 or later...

Learn:
Pattern: pattern is a combination of elements or shapes repeated in a recurring and regular arrangement. It is closely related to repetition and rhythm. Patterns are one way to create texture in a design. We'll be learning how to create patterns in other sections of this lesson. Let's start by reading a good article...

Reading Assignment: Design in Art: Repetition, Pattern, and Rhythm (PDF Version)

So, what is the difference between pattern (a repetitive principle) and rhythm (also a repetitive principle)? I like this answer I found online...

"Pattern is restrictive in its visual composition. Patterns are repetitive by their very nature. They don't let you free or take you on a journey... they simply go tick tick tick tick tick tick or maybe tick thump tick thump and so on.... LOL!

What adds rhythm to a pattern is often color and tone.

Rhythm can be free and manic and a little crazy. Think of the painting of a storm... there is no pattern. And yet you still feel the wind, the rain and hear the storm. Also... think of action painting (google it!) where the artist literally expresses his or her movement (rhythm) onto the surface with paint. There is often no pattern here and yet the pieces still buzz with the rhythm and motion of the artist" Watch the rhythm video in our resources section!

Now go through the following tutorial on patterns in Photoshop (PDF)...