Just in case... If you see blank squares, just click on "Reload" at top of screen.
These web pages are a response to interest generated by other interested educators in a web authoring class taught by Dr.Manorama Talaiver at the Mathematics & Science Center in Richmond Virginia . I have used these techniques with students for years to improve eye/hand/mouse/trackball coordenation and promote interest in the computer as another arttool.
Print these instructions and refer to them as you create your tessellations.

Step 1. using the the square drawing selection create a square, and then fill it in.

Step 2. using the lasso, draw a line through the square and make a complete loop until you have reached where you began, and attach the end of your line to its beginning.

Step 3. still using the lasso, place the arrow on the area you have encompassed with a line, and holding the mouse button down, move the newly created shape away from the rest of the square.

Step 4. holding the mouse button down, carefully move the portion selected horizontally across the remainder and place the two parts together flat side to flat side so that where the two connect at the top and bottom are even.

Step 5. using the lasso, draw a line through the square top or bottom and make a complete loop until you have reached where you began, and attach the end of your line to its beginning.

Step 6. still using the lasso, place the arrow on the area you have encompassed with a line and holding the mouse button down, move the newly created shape away from the rest of the square.

Step 7. Still holding the mouse button down, carefully move the portion selected vertically directly across the remainder and place the two parts together flat side to flat side. Be careful to move the newly created shape straight up or down and not diagonally.

Now you are ready to let your imagination run wild.
Look at your creation... what does the shape suggest?... flip it... turn it... sometimes while you are doodling on one idea another one pops into your mind.
Sketch it while you can remember it. before another one comes along.

Using the rest of the available tools in your program, take your best idea and make your shape come alive. The more sophisticated the system and program, the more sophisticated the techniques available, but even with the most rudimentary equipment and software wonderful tessellations are possible. Do you have a color printer? If so add color to the tessellations for more dynamic impact. Don't have a color printer? Add color anyway by printing in gray scale and add color with pencils, watercolor, markers, etc. If you really get an outstanding tessellation take it on disk to Kwik Kopy or a similar business where they can print from your disk.

If you have comments or suggestions, email me at vaartist@vaartist.net
click on little Greedy Elf to go on...

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Step 3. still using the lasso, place the arrow on the area you have encompassed with a line, and holding the mouse button down, move the newly created shape away from the rest of the square.

Step 4. holding the mouse button down, carefully move the portion selected horizontally across the remainder and place the two parts together flat side to flat side so that where the two connect at the top and bottom are even.

Step 5. using the lasso, draw a line through the square top or bottom and make a complete loop until you have reached where you began, and attach the end of your line to its beginning.

Step 6. still using the lasso, place the arrow on the area you have encompassed with a line and holding the mouse button down, move the newly created shape away from the rest of the square.

Step 7. Still holding the mouse button down, carefully move the portion selected vertically directly across the remainder and place the two parts together flat side to flat side. Be careful to move the newly created shape straight up or down and not diagonally.

Now you are ready to let your imagination run wild.
Look at your creation... what does the shape suggest?... flip it... turn it... sometimes while you are doodling on one idea another one pops into your mind.
Sketch it while you can remember it. before another one comes along.

Using the rest of the available tools in your program, take your best idea and make your shape come alive. The more sophisticated the system and program, the more sophisticated the techniques available, but even with the most rudimentary equipment and software wonderful tessellations are possible. Do you have a color printer? If so add color to the tessellations for more dynamic impact. Don't have a color printer? Add color anyway by printing in gray scale and add color with pencils, watercolor, markers, etc. If you really get an outstanding tessellation take it on disk to Kwik Kopy or a similar business where they can print from your disk.

If you have comments or suggestions, email me at vaartist@vaartist.net
click on little Greedy Elf to go on...