Every pattern is a combination of colors, shadows and lines, regardless of what it is intended for. If you look closely at embroidery patterns, ornaments for wooden objects, or pieces of mugs, you can be convinced that they have common details. Sometimes you want to learn how to draw patterns on your own to decorate household items or just for fun.
How to draw patterns on paper?
In order to draw patterns on paper, you will need: actually, a sheet of paper and a pencil, and to draw a pattern using a stencil, you may also need cardboard, a sponge, a shoe knife and paints.
So, first you need to decide for what purposes the drawing will subsequently be used. This will directly determine what materials will be needed to create it, what elements will need to be drawn. If the pattern becomes part of a design on paper or an ornament for embroidery, then its location on the sheet should first be determined. It can be either part of the frame or located in any part of the sheet.
By the way, its color scheme will directly depend on the purpose of the ornament. The outline of the embroidery pattern should be monochromatic, but at the same time you will need to clearly represent all color combinations. The design for subsequent wood carving or lace pins should look self-sufficient in a monochromatic color scheme. It will also be necessary to think about which elements will be selected as additional ones, because they must belong to the same style as the main pattern. You shouldn’t forget about those nuances that will be constantly repeated.
Now it’s time to think through the main part of the pattern, namely its main elements. For floral ornaments, they should be leaves, flowers or berries. You will also need to choose their location. You may have to connect the elements together with other secondary elements using stems or other lines.
For an ornament in a geometric style, you should choose triangles, circles, and squares as the main elements. You need to try placing them on a small sheet of paper in different areas and in different sequences, and then choose the one you like best. You can connect elements to each other using straight, dotted, and broken lines. You can also first try to draw the lines one by one in combination with the main element, and then choose the most appropriate one.
Now on a large sheet of paper you should arrange the elements of the ornament in accordance with the pre-selected pattern and connect them. If, at the end of the process, you have a feeling of incompleteness when looking at the drawing, then supplement it with other details. But before that, you should mark in the drawing those places where they will look most advantageous.
If the pattern subsequently becomes part of an easel drawing, then it should be made in the same style in which the main drawing will be made. A pattern that will be used as a sketch for embroidery or for other purposes in needlework should be outlined with a felt-tip pen, and then transferred to fabric or a wooden surface.
Learning to draw with a pencil
Patterns are present in all branches of art: from folk art of various nations of the world to modern abstract works. In general, at the first glance at the patterns, it begins to mistakenly seem that they are very complex in execution, and it is almost impossible to draw them yourself. But if you take a pencil, a sheet of paper and stock up on patience and diligence, you can very easily be convinced of the opposite!
- Do you think how to draw patterns beautifully? Take simple diagrams as a basis. Even the most complex ornament begins with them. First of all, you should select the basic elements; their roles can be: dots, circles, droplets, waves, loops, rectangles, crosses. Any of these shapes can be chosen as the starting point for drawing the pattern. Using dots you can draw a simple pattern.
- You just need to follow all the stages of drawing correctly. So, taking a pencil and a sheet of paper, you can begin the creative process. If you cannot draw straight lines yourself, then you will need graphic paper, or you can use a regular stationery ruler. You should take a piece of paper and draw dots on it in a row.
- Now the points should be outlined with shapes in the form of droplets.
- Then, on top of each drawn droplet, draw one more.
- After this, you should draw a small circle above the resulting picture, above each of which, in turn, you need to draw a curl turned to the left, and then the same curl, only to the right.
- In general, if you look at it, drawing patterns is drawing simple shapes in a row, one after another. By the way, each element can be painted in a different color, or you can decorate the picture after finishing the work.
- Now you can start drawing a more complex pattern.
- So, you should draw several points in a row, each of which then needs to be circled in a small circle.
- Now each circle should also be circled in another circle.
- Then you will need to draw petals to each resulting circle, and a small circle below.
- At the bottom along the edges of each resulting flower you need to draw a couple of droplets, each of which will be turned in different directions.
- Afterwards, under each element you should draw a spiral, and between them - a small circle. The latter should be circled in the same circle, only larger in size.
- Afterwards, under each flower you should draw 3 petals. That's it - another pattern is ready!
- Now you can try to draw an ornament using another technology. Instead of dots, waves in 2 rows should be drawn as the basis of the ornament. Then draw loops from the top of each wave.
- Between each of the loops you should draw a circle, and at the bottom of the picture you should draw a straight line.
- Now, from the drawn horizontal straight line, vertical stripes should be drawn to the upper wavy line.
- Then at the bottom you should draw another straight horizontal line, and under it - a row of circles. That's it - now your creation is ready!
When drawing, it is often necessary to depict patterns of varying degrees of complexity. Patterns can be used to decorate characters’ clothing, furniture and household items, dishes, houses and other places where they live, for example, fairy-tale characters (mansions, palaces), and much more. Many pictures can be decorated with beautiful patterned lines. But drawing patterns is not always easy. They can be very simple, or they can be so ornate and complex that it takes skill and skill to portray them well. Let's learn how to draw not very complex patterns on paper here.
Stage 1. Let's draw pattern helper lines. These are curved lines twisted in different directions. We have three options here. We will start from these lines and draw further developing patterns, as if superimposing the next curls on these.
Stage 2. Now we draw additional curls next to each of the options. These lines remind us of the stems of climbing plants with leaves.
Stage 4. Now let's finish drawing the patterns with the last, final curls. It looked like intertwining lines. Such patterns can be placed on the clothes of fairy-tale characters.
Stage 5. Color the patterns in different colors. These can be monochromatic patterns, as in our case, or you can make them multi-colored. Everything is at your discretion.
Article author: Tanya McArdle. Learn to draw patterns, step by step, thanks to this simple tutorial - our article. Once you learn how to draw patterns, you will be able to use them in your creativity in any form.
For example, take a look at the colorful paintings above. This pattern is essentially a series of different patterns following each other.
Patterns are represented in all areas of art, from modern abstract art to folk art from diverse cultures around the world. You can see more examples in books and on the Internet..
When you look at patterns like the ones above, you might (wrongly) assume that they're so complex that you'd never be able to draw them yourself - let alone come up with your own... Well, pick up a pencil because I'm going to show you how to do it!
By the end of this article, you will be able to draw a pattern like this very quickly:
Even the most complex patterns start from the elementary. From this article you will learn how patterns were created so that you can use them in your own creativity.
Remember: All patterns start simple
First, let's look at a few examples of basic patterns:
points
rectangles
crosses
squiggles
Any of the sample patterns above can be a starting point for creating more detailed patterns - all you have to do is add some creativity to your existing designs!
Now I'll show you how to make really cool patterns - and it all starts with one single point!
To get started, I'll show you how to draw this pattern step by step:
On a piece of paper, draw a series of dots:
If you need help drawing the dots in a straight line, use ruled paper, graph paper, or a ruler.
Now add droplets by tracing the dots:
Then add another drop on top of the one already drawn:
Draw a small circle above each double drop:
Draw a small left-facing squiggle above each circle:
Now draw the squiggles facing to the right:
Voila! You've just drawn a pattern! It wasn't that difficult, was it?
As you may have noticed, drawing patterns is actually drawing simple shapes, one after another, all in a row.
You can even paint each shape a new color or paint them all when you're done.
Okay, now we will draw this pattern:
This one is more complex than the previous pattern, but remember: everything starts with a dot!
Draw a series of dots:
Now draw a small circle around each point:
Draw a larger circle around the ones you just created:
Now draw a circle for each petals:
Draw a small circle under each flower:
Draw two droplets along the edges of each flower. One droplet will be turned to the left, and the other to the right.
Under each circle, draw a spiral squiggle:
Draw a small circle between the spiral squiggles:
Circle each circle you just drew with another, larger one:
Draw three petals sprouting under each circle:
Congratulations! You've just drawn your second pattern!
Now let's make another pattern starting with just a dot. This is what you have to draw:
Draw a series of dots (You are already succeeding at this!):
Draw a small circle around each point:
Draw another circle around each one already drawn:
Draw very small circles on the top, bottom, and edges of each circle:
Draw connecting rounded lines from each bottom circle to the next:
Draw a rounded connecting line from each small circle at the top to the next one:
Inside each formed circle, draw 2 droplets at the bottom: one tilted to the left, the second to the right:
Inside each circle, draw 2 droplets on top: one tilted to the left, the other to the right:
Draw a row of “tubercles” or “mounds” at the top and bottom:
Great! You just drew another one pattern!
I bet you're starting to look like a real artist, so let's try something new. Instead of starting with a series of dots, this time we'll start with waves to create a pattern like this:
Let's draw a wave:
Let's draw another wave above this one:
From the top point of our wave, draw a loop:
Draw a circle between the loops:
Draw a straight line under the bottom wave:
Draw vertical lines from the bottom of the wave to a straight line:
Draw another straight line at the bottom:
All that remains is to add a row of circles under the bottom straight line:
Hooray! You've really excelled at creating patterns!
Now that you know how to create patterns, you can create all kinds of patterns of your own!
Just remember that a pattern is just a repetition of shapes. And to make an even more complex pattern, continue step by step, shape by shape.
For inspiration, look at books containing patterns such as Mayan, Japanese, Indian, African... every culture, in every corner of the world, has its own, to one degree or another, distinctive patterns - in architecture, textiles, artwork etc. Let them become a springboard for your further unique achievements!
The art of ornament is very ancient. It arose in the Paleolithic era. Ornamental images provide aesthetic pleasure, which has a strong impact on a person, causing chains of associations that allow one to understand and appreciate the work. The main pattern of the ornament is the periodic repetition of the motif. Ornament is also characterized by the translation of real forms and objects into conventional ornamental images, a high degree of decorative generalization, and the absence of aerial perspective (flat image).
Ornament has always been widely used as a decorative design for products needed by people in everyday life and practical activities. It forms the basis of decorative and applied arts. Handicrafts, ceramics, and textiles are not without ornament.
All ornamental designs, according to their visual capabilities, are divided into three types: figurative ornament, including a specific drawing of a person, animals, plants, landscape or architectural motifs, a drawing of inanimate objects or a complex emblem;
non-figurative ornament, formed from geometric elements, abstract forms, devoid of specific subject content;
combined ornament, which is a combination of figurative motifs or individual elements, on the one hand, and abstract forms, on the other.
Ornament is classified 1. according to visual motifs: plant, geometric, animalistic, anthropological, calligraphic, fantastic, astral, etc.
2.By style: antique, gothic, baroque, etc.
3.By nationality: Ukrainian, Belarusian, Greek, etc.
4. According to the visual form: planar, relief (small elevation), relief (small depression inward).
Characteristics of ornaments based on figurative motifs.
The primary form of ornament is technical an ornament that arose as a result of human labor activity (the texture of clay products processed on a potter's wheel, the pattern of simple cells in fabric, spiral-shaped turns obtained by weaving ropes).
Technical ornament
Symbolic
the ornament arose and was formed on the basis of images of animals, people, tools in rock paintings, and on fabric. The evolution of conventional images has led to the fact that ornamental images are often symbols. Having appeared in Ancient Egypt and other countries of the East, symbolic ornament still plays an important role today, for example, in heraldry (image of a hammer and sickle, double-headed eagle, etc.). 
Geometric
the ornament was formed on the basis of technical and symbolic ornaments. It always places emphasis on the strict alternation of rhythmic elements and their color combinations. The fundamental principle of almost any geometric shape is a really existing form, generalized and simplified to the limit (Greek meander-wave, circle - sun, etc.)
Vegetable ornament is the most common after geometric. It is characterized by its favorite motifs, different for different countries at different times. If in Japan and China the favorite plant is chrysanthemum, then in India - beans, beans, in Iran - cloves, in Russia - sunflower, chamomile. In the early Middle Ages, the vine and trefoil were especially popular, in the late Gothic period - thistle and pomegranate, in Baroque times - tulip and peony. In the 18th century, the rose “ruled”; Art Nouveau brought the lily and iris to the fore. Floral ornament has the greatest potential in terms of the variety of motifs used and execution techniques. In some cases, the motifs are interpreted in a realistic, three-dimensional manner, in others – in a more stylized, conventionally flat form.
Calligraphic
the ornament is made up of individual letters or text elements, expressive in their plastic pattern and rhythm. The art of calligraphy has most fully developed in countries such as China, Japan, and Arab countries, in a certain sense replacing fine art.
At the core fantastic
The ornament consists of fictitious images, often of symbolic and mythological content. Fantastic ornaments with images of scenes from the life of animals became especially widespread in the countries of the Ancient East (Egypt, Assyria, China, India, Byzantium). In the Middle Ages, fantastic ornamentation was popular due to the fact that religion prohibited the depiction of living beings.
Astral the ornament affirmed the cult of the sky. Its main elements were images of the sky, sun, clouds, and stars. It is most widespread in Japan and China.
Landscape
The ornament was and is especially often used on textiles made in Japan and China.
IN animal
(animalistic) In the ornament, both realistic and more conventional, stylized images of birds, animals, etc. are possible. In the latter case, the ornament to a certain extent approaches the fantastic ornament.
Subject,
or material ornament arose in ancient Rome and was subsequently widely used during the Renaissance, during the times of Baroque, Rococo, and Classicism. The content of the subject ornament consists of objects of military life, everyday life, musical and theatrical art.
Anthropomorphic the ornament uses male and female stylized figures or individual parts of the human body as motifs.
The nature of the ornament also depends on national images, ideas, customs, etc. For example, the ornamentation of the Ukrainians is completely different from the ornamental forms of the Arabs.
Ukrainian ornament
Arabic ornament
Arabesque from fr. arabesque - Arabic) is the European name for the ornament of medieval art of Muslim countries. The arabesque, built on a geometric grid, is based on the principle of endless spatial development of repeating groups of ornamental motifs. Arabesque is distinguished by repeated rhythmic layering of homogeneous forms, which creates the impression of an intricate, whimsical pattern.
The combination of ornaments, their dependence on the material and shape of the object, as well as the rhythm form the decor, which is an integral feature of a certain style.Style in the art of any era is the historically established unity of the figurative system, means and methods of artistic expression. The basis of any style is a uniform system of artistic forms generated by an ideological and methodological community that arose in certain social and economic conditions. When forming a figurative system of a new style, ornament is one of the most important components of it and is among those means of artistic expression that make it possible to accurately determine whether any architectural monument or work of decorative and applied art belongs to a given style.
By style features the ornament can be antique, gothic, byzantine, baroque, etc.
Gothic ornament
Renaissance ornament.
During the Middle Ages, ornaments were distinguished by fantastic and fairy-tale designs based on plant and animal motifs. The medieval ornament is symbolic. Natural motifs are interpreted conventionally and stylized. Simple rectilinear geometric shapes transform into woven curvilinear ones. Through the developed decorative and ornamental means in the Middle Ages, the inner world, state and experiences of a person were indirectly transmitted, which was not the case in ancient art.
During the Renaissance, a secular humanistic culture was formed, affirming the value of the human person. During this period, art strives for clarity and harmony. The ornaments widely use motifs of acanthus and oak, grapevine, tulip, located against a background of plant curls and patterns. In addition, animals and birds were often depicted in combination with a naked human body.
The Baroque style ornament is built on intense contrasts, sharply contrasting the earthly and the heavenly, the real and the fantastic, as is the case with all Baroque art. Baroque ornamentation is distinguished by its variety and expressiveness of forms, splendor, splendor and solemnity. It is also characterized by decorativeness and dynamics, the predominance of curvilinear forms and asymmetry.
At the beginning of the 18th century. The Baroque style is transformed into the Rococo style. The ornament acquires lightness, airiness, mobility and picturesqueness. It is characterized by openwork, curved, curvilinear forms, lack of clear constructiveness (a favorite motif is the shell).
During the period of classicism at the end of the 18th century. there is a revision of the ideals of ancient aesthetics. The ornament again acquires staticity and balance, clarity and precision. It consists mainly of straight lines, squares, rectangles, circles and ovals, becoming restrained in color.
At the beginning of the 19th century. the dominance of classicism ends with the Empire style (from the French empire - empire), which draws its artistic ideals from the art of the Greek archaic and imperial Rome. Empire style ornamentation is characterized by severity, schematism, severity, solemnity and pomp, and military armor and laurel wreaths are used as motifs. Typical color combinations: scarlet with black, green with red, blue with bright yellow, white with gold.
So, the ornament of each period reveals a connection with the spiritual life of society, architecture, decorative art, and reflects the aesthetics of the era.
Ornaments based on the nature of the surface are divided into flat and embossed
Relief ornament
A special group includes those that combine relief and color. Relief patterns, for example carving on ganch (a Central Asian type of gypsum), are unique. The tradition of decorating homes with carved plaster has existed in Central Asia since the first centuries of our era. Excellent examples of such carving can be seen in the architectural monuments of Khorezm, Samarkand, and Bukhara.
Gunch carving
A clearly defined rhythm, as well as stylization, is the basis of all ornaments. Report(motif) - repetition of the same group of elements in a pattern.
One motivic is a pattern in which the same motif is rhythmically repeated. For example, one motif is the famous ancient Greek pattern called “meander”.
Meander
The rhythmic repetition of two different motifs is often found in the ornament.
Depending on the purpose and purpose There are three types of ornament, which are considered to be basic: ribbon, mesh and compositionally closed.
Ribbon ornament looks like a ribbon or strip. This pattern consists of repeating elements and is limited on two sides - top and bottom. The ribbon ornament is divided into frieze, border and border.
Whimsical Celtic patterns inspire creative people to create a variety of products, including exquisite women's jewelry, wedding rings, clothing, home decor, stained glass, wrought iron fences and gates. Celtic motifs open up endless possibilities for woodcarvers to decorate their products and make a variety of souvenirs.
Ornate patterns that have come down to us from time immemorial seem mysterious, fabulous and magical. The ancient Celts endowed each design with a special sacred meaning and considered themselves not to have the right to change their design, since they believed that the patterns were bestowed by the gods. However, higher powers did not forbid the Celts from intertwining and combining ornaments with each other, which led to the appearance of intricate intricacies of lines and intricate labyrinths.
At first glance, these patterns seem extremely complex, however, once you understand the principles of their creation, you can draw any pattern. We offer several ways to draw simple Celtic patterns for beginners.
Method 1
1. Draw a shape using two rounded rectangles.
2. Draw another similar shape, placing it horizontally and orienting it in the center of the first shape.
3. Erase several lines at the intersections as shown in the figure.
4. Draw two circles.
5. Erase several segments on the circles at the interlacing points.
6. Color the resulting ornament.
7. If necessary, add a background to highlight the design.
Method 2
1. Draw a square.
2. Add to each side of the square pieces equal in length to the side of the square.
3. Draw lines perpendicular to these segments equal to twice the length of the side of the square.
4. Add four rectangles as shown in the picture.
5. Trace these rectangles to form the design.
6. The final appearance of the ornament.
Frame in the form of a Celtic ornament
1. Draw the reference lines of the future ornament.
2. Circle the resulting drawing with two lines on the outside and inside.
3. Erase the center reference line and shape the intersections to create weaves.
4. The Celtic ornament is ready.
Drawing a Celtic Clover Leaf Knot
1. Draw two perpendicular lines of equal length - vertical and horizontal. Step back from the center of the intersection by a third of the length of each segment and place points.
2. Starting from these points, draw four heart shapes. From the bottom point of each heart, draw a line towards the bottom point of the other heart as shown in the figure.
3. Draw a parallel line along half of each heart.
4. Close the gaps created between the drawn lines, forming an interlacing.
5. Draw the other halves of the hearts.
6. In the center of each heart, draw a drop shape and complete it with a line drawn to the inner border of the heart towards the bottom point of the next drop shape.
7. Circle each drop with a parallel line.
8. Connect the resulting figures to each other.
9. In order to get a beautiful weave, some lines at the intersections must be erased.
10. Now the Celtic knot can be colored and, if desired, supplemented with other elements in the form of triangles, droplets, stars, etc.
11. Ready-made ornament.
Ornament of ovals and hearts
1. Draw four intersecting lines of equal length as shown in the figure. Place a dot in the center of each of the eight segments.
2. Starting from a point, draw eight oval shapes and complete them with segments drawn towards the starting point of the next oval, leaving gaps to form future intersections.
3. Trace each oval with a parallel line.
4. Close the gaps to form a weave.
5. Draw eight small hearts complete with connecting lines going from the bottom point of each heart to the bottom point of the next heart.
6. Trace the resulting figures with parallel lines.
7. The result should be the following ornament.
8. All that remains is to erase the unnecessary lines at the intersection of the ornament of hearts with the ornament of ovals and, if necessary, color the drawing.
