Repeating Structure Research

Now having created a variety of potential imagery for my outcomes i want to turn my head to take a look at what sorts of repeats i could consider for my project. Although we have looking into these in depth over the past two years i feel it be best if i refresh my memory of all possible options to ensure i am choosing the best repeating structure for my designs.

First of all i dug out some example images of repeats from second year. I remember these being awfully useful when considering which repeating structure would be best for my outcomes so expect they will be again this year. Using these examples last year i also created some using my own imagery. These i will also refer to in order to inspire my repeating structures for this project.

As well as reflecting back at these examples i have also taken to the internet to see what other repeats i may find. I have decided to present these in a list format for ease to refer back later. If i have previously encountered the repeat and can easily visualise it’s structure i have just included the title; however, if it is a repeat i have not encountered before i have added a comment in brackets to help myself recall its structure.

• Allover
• Block Repeat
• Tossed/ Irregular/ Random
• Boarder
• Brick
• Half Drop
• Diamond
• Striped
• Check
• Turnover/ 90 Degree Rotation
• Composite (Includes two or more symmetrical motifs which are mirrored, reversed or rotated)
• Counterchange (Patterns where the motif and background reverse in hue)
• Diaper (multi coloured small scale patterns using geometric shapes)
• Fall-On (areas which overlap and produce a different colour where they intersect)
• Foulard (Small motifs in a block repeat)
• Non-directional layout (where no matter which way you view the pattern it looks the same)
• One-directional (all motifs facing one single direction)
• Two- directional (motifs facing two directions)
• Four-way Layout (motifs are placed so can be seen from all four directions)
• Positive Negative Layout (where the background hue takes the form of a shape so it appears to be part of the repeat and not just a background)
• Freize Pattern (infinite strip with many linear repeating patterns stacked on one another)
• Gradation pattern (the pattern has motifs of different sizes and/ or shades)
• Interlocking pattern (the motifs are linked together with no space between)
• Packed (where the motifs are packed tightly together with minimal space in between)
• Asymmetrical layout (no symmetry in the motifs or repeat)
• Placement

Overall this research has been very interesting as it has provided myself with many new ways i can experiment with different repeating structures. Much of my online research i have not encountered before so it will be interesting to play with some of these ideas to see what i can come up with. From here i want to start printing off my watercolours i have scanned in and start to experiment with different types of repeats in my sketchbook.