What is a pattern and what is a motif?
A motif is the small shape you start with. It can be a triangle, a leaf, a star or a simple line. A pattern is what you get when you repeat the motif again and again in a regular way. Pattern making is called decorative composition: you do not draw a real scene, you arrange shapes and colours to look pleasing.
The key idea is rhythm: the same thing coming back, like the beat in a song.
The grid: your hidden map
A grid is a set of equal boxes made by straight lines. Each box is a cell. To draw it neatly: use a ruler to measure equal gaps, a set square to make exact right angles (corners of 90 degrees), and a compass to draw circles and arcs of the same size in every cell. Mark every cell with light pencil dots first. Draw the final lines dark only when everything is correct.
Changing the motif step by step
A boring pattern repeats the motif exactly. An exciting pattern makes a successive change: a small change that grows cell after cell. You can change:
- Turn (rotation): each cell turns a quarter (90 degrees) more than the one before.
- Flip (mirror): the motif becomes its mirror image.
- Size: each motif is a little bigger or smaller.
- Colour: swap two colours on every other cell, like a chessboard.
After 4 quarter-turns the motif is back where it started. So a turn pattern repeats every 4 cells.
Balance and colour
Use only 2 or 3 colours so the eye can rest. Put dark and light colours next to each other so the shapes stand out (this is called contrast). If the design looks the same when you fold it in half, it has symmetry. Finish by outlining the edges neatly and keeping the colours inside the lines.
Key formulas and definitions
- Motif: the small shape that is repeated
- Cell: one box of the grid
- Quarter-turn = 90 degrees; 4 quarter-turns = back to the start
- Number of cells in a grid = rows × columns
- Tools: ruler (equal gaps), set square (right angles), compass (circles and arcs)
Worked examples
1. A grid has 6 rows and 8 columns. How many motifs do you draw to fill it?
6 × 8 = 48 motifs.
2. A motif turns a quarter more in each next cell. After how many cells does it look like the first one again?
One quarter is 90 degrees. 4 quarters = 360 degrees, a full turn. So the 5th cell matches the 1st (every 4 steps).
3. You swap two colours on every other cell of a 4 × 4 grid. How many cells have the swapped colours?
Half of the cells: 16 ÷ 2 = 8 cells (like the dark squares of a chessboard).
Common mistakes
- Drawing the grid without a ruler. Uneven cells spoil the whole pattern.
- Using too many colours. The pattern looks messy. Keep to 2 or 3.
- Changing too many things at once. Change one thing at each step, such as the turn.
- Pressing the pencil hard at the start. Draw light first so you can rub out mistakes.