Weekly Theme: Patterns in Nature

"To understand is to perceive patterns" 
- Isaiah Berlin, British philosopher

Did you know: Nature also likes to stay in order?

In art, a pattern is a repetition of specific visual elements. The dictionary defines "pattern" as an arrangement of repeated or corresponding parts, decorative motifs, etc. a decorative design. Patterns in nature are regular forms and symmetry found in the natural world. Most often they are based on mathematical models. Some examples include: symmetry (snowflakes), fractals (tree branches), spirals (flowers), meanders (river bends), waves, spheres, tessellations (honeycombs), cracks and spots and stripes on animals and birds.

Thanks so much to Susan Skorneck Chavez for suggesting this week's theme of "Patterns in Nature. " There are natural patterns everywhere - your choices for inspiration are endless: stripes on a bird or zebra, seed heads, the branches of trees, conifer cones, etc. Once you start noticing patterns it’s hard to stop

What can this exercise do for us?  Not only can it hone our powers of observation, it is also a powerful tool for meditation.  While rendering repeating patterns, we can take a break from the busyness around us.  

So, ... give your left brain a break, and create some patterns with us.  

If you can sketch from direct observation, it will be urban sketching. If you work from a photo, please use the label NUS (non an urban sketch) when posting on https://www.facebook.com/groups/nycurbansketchers.

For some additional inspiration, see: 

Natural Patterns https://ecstep.com/natural-patterns/
Patterns in nature by Amy Lamb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGKLZ3NO9Qk




For information on Mathematical patterns in Nature, see:

Fibonacci Sequence in Nature https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt2OlMAJj6o
How To Use The Golden Ratio In Art Composition & Design By Chelsea Wells Https://Artignition.Com/Golden-Ratio-In-Art