What is Pattern Principle in Art? 4 Types, Examples, Definition

What is patterns in art? What makes patterns in arts important? Let’s break it down, starting with definition, 4 pattern types and examples.

What Are Patterns in Art?

Patterns in art refer to the repetition and ordered arrangement of a design. Patterns are made by arranging shapes, lines, and forms in such a way that the art elements repeat. The part of the pattern that repeats is known as a motif.

Patterns can either be natural or man-made, which we will explore more below.

From intricate patterns found in nature, such as on the wings of a butterfly, to more simplistic patterns that are within the windows of a home, patterns can be discovered all around us.

7 Principles of Art

Rhythm is one of the principles of art, not elements of art. You can learn about each principle of art and element of art in the linked articles below:

1. Balance
2. Contrast and Emphasis
3. Movement and Rhythm
4. Unity and Variety
5. Harmony
6. Pattern (we are learning about patterns now!)
7. Proportions and Scale

The 7 Elements of Art

1. Line
2. Color
3. Form
4. Shape
5. Value
6. Texture
7. Space

Why Are Patterns Important in Art?

Patterns are important in art because they help to add rhythm and movement, catch the viewer’s attention, or create emphasis in the artwork. Patterns bring order and balance to an artwork’s composition. 

Artists also use patterns in art because they are a visually fun and exciting way to play with the elements of art, such as line, color, and shape, and they can be used solely for decorative purposes.

Making a pattern is another way for artists to convey emotion and meaning in their work because they can be used to produce complex designs and motifs or optical illusions.

Learn about art fundamentals and advanced drawing techniques from professional artists.

4 Types of Patterns in Art

The four prominent types of patterns in art are natural/organic, man-made, geometric, and irregular.

The world of patterns is never-ending, and artists are constantly exploring innovative ways to produce patterns. For now, let’s examine the four main ones within this article.

Natural Patterns in Art

Natural patterns in art are organic in their composition. Since patterns are found throughout nature, artists often use the natural world as a reliable source of creative inspiration.

Let’s take a look at a few of the many patterns found in nature. A natural pattern can be seen in the petals of a flower, the complex branches within the structure of a tree, and the spiral of a shell.

Artists create natural or organic patterns to mimic or attempt to replicate what they see in nature. We see this often with botanical and floral patterns.

Natural Patterns by William Morris

William Morris was a British textile designer and a prominent contributor to the resurgence of traditional British textile arts. His intricate botanical and natural designs show how organic shapes can be utilized to create a fascinating and mesmerizing pattern arrangement.

You may have come across Morris’s famous “Fruit” pattern (above) artwork as the chosen wallpaper for a home or business.

This botanical pattern is popular because of how pleasing it is to view; there is a perfect amount of balance, harmony, and repetition.

The contrast of the dark background with the green vines and vibrant fruits makes the whole composition a delight!

Another famous example in Morris’s extensive collection is the “Strawberry Thief” pattern pictured in the image above. Here, the repeating organic visual elements include leaves and flowers, birds, and strawberries.

Even though the pattern is busy, the precise amount of negative space allows for the viewer’s eyes to rest. Because of the way the shapes are arranged and vary in size, the pattern is still harmonious and balanced.

Man-made Patterns in Art

Man-made patterns in art are patterns made by humans, and they can either be created for structural or decorative purposes. These patterns are found in multiple forms of creation, including painting, sculpture, architecture, textiles, and decorative arts.

Man-made patterns are an important element of art because they add visual interest and complexity to a work and can also convey cultural or symbolic meanings.

These patterns can be either organic or geometric. Let’s take a look at a few examples in architecture:

The architecture of a building can produce intriguing creative patterns, such as the repeating windows and arch of the building shown above.

Mosques feature breathtaking man-made patterns. In the image above, a stunning floral pattern and other decorative patterns adorn the entire structure.

Examine closely, and you’ll discover that no section of the building’s arch lacks a pattern!

Interestingly, the aerial view of a spiral staircase is a man-made pattern that imitates a snail’s shell.

Geometric Patterns in Art

Geometric patterns in art refer to shapes, objects, images, or other art elements that repeat themselves in regular or irregular ways. These patterns are based on math principles and are typically characterized by their use of clean lines, bold colors, and shapes.

Shapes like squares, circles, octagons, diamonds, stars, triangles, ovals, pentagons, and hexagons are frequently found in these patterns.

These patterns are used for a variety of purposes. The geometry creates the intricate designs found in Islamic structures, and they can also be as simplistic as the general checkerboard pattern.

In the pattern above, the arrangement of triangles in different directions gives the illusion of other shapes, like rectangles and quadrilaterals.

The 19th century artist Emile Prisses d’Avennes created an Arabic art pattern that displays elaborate geometric shapes and how they work together to create a cohesive, impressive pattern.

Here, the focal point is the middle section of red and green circles.

The most complex pattern designs begin with geometry. In this photo of a sublime Islamic ceiling, thousands of circles ranging in size are the primary shape used to create such an ornate ceiling.

Even the structure of the ceiling is made up of geometry!

Irregular Patterns

An irregular pattern is created when the pattern deviates from its expected “perfect” condition. These types of patterns can create a sense of disruption or surprise, catching the viewer’s attention with its unexpected behavior.

Some examples of irregular patterns include:

1. Abstract patterns that are made by using irregular shapes, lines, and colors.
2. Hand-drawn patterns that are organic or uneven in nature.
3. Patterns made by overlapping or layering various shapes in a non-uniform way.
4. Patterns that use details to create randomness or chaos, like splatters or drips.
5. Patterns inspired by natural forms, like irregular patterns found in the bark of trees or rock formations.

Irregular Patterns by Piet Mondrian

Piet Mondrian was a Dutch painter regarded as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century.

His classic abstract paintings often used irregular shapes and colors in simplified ways. Mondrian’s use of asymmetrical balance and irregular patterns were fundamental in the development of modern art.

His best-known paintings were from the 1920s, such as Composition with red, black, blue, and yellow shown below. The shapes combined with an irregular pattern produce a visually interesting painting. In each of the paintings above, the shapes are placed in an irregular composition, but there is still a sense of repetition.

The shapes are not the same size, nor are they put in an arrangement that depicts order. This creates the irregular pattern.

In Broadway Boogie Woogie, the use of rectangular and square shapes without a sense of order certainly produces some disruption.

And yet, there is unity in this painting because of the consistent patterning within the shapes and the red, blue, and yellow color scheme.

Learn about shapes, lines, values and much more with Drawing Basics lessons from Proko.

How Are Patterns Formed in Art?

There are multiple ways that artists can create patterns in their artwork. With color, repetition is formed made based on the palette that the artist chooses to use.

Patterns can be produced with lines as well, which can generate an optical illusion. Another way that patterns are created is through shape and form. Repeating patterns can come in all different shapes, sizes, and directions.

Below, let’s look at how patterns in art are utilized in four different ways.

Patterns in Color

Patterns ranging from monochromatic to multicolor can be formed by using color. Colors can also be organized in such a way that it creates form. Color is important in patterns because the chosen color scheme can convey ideas, elicit a specific emotional response, or it can be used simply for aesthetic purposes.

The Color Field Painting art movement of the 1940s-1950s was part of Abstract Expressionism, and it displays how patterns can be formed with just color.

These paintings are characterized by their big, unbroken fields of flat color that are intended to give off the impression of vastness. Significant artists of the movement include Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, and Clyfford Still.

Learn about Mark Rothko’s notable contribution to the Color Field Painting art movement and Abstract Expressionism as a whole in the video below:

Patterns in Line

A line pattern is formed when there is repetition based on how the lines have been placed in an artwork. These patterns are incredibly versatile. They can be vertical, horizontal, zigzag, curved, wavy, diagonal, and so much more. The possibilities are endless!

Here are a few of the different types of lines that artists might choose to add in their patterns:

These patterns can be a simple mix of vertical and horizontal lines, such as displayed in the examples above. They can also be used to create complex optical illusions.

The Op Art (short for Optical Art) Movement of the 1960s shows how lines manipulated in certain ways can produce the illusion of depth or movement.

The Hungarian-French artist Victor Vasarely is widely known as the “grandfather” and leader of the movement. His 1937 work Zebra is considered to be one of the earliest and most prominent pieces that set the course for Optical Art.

In it, two zebras are defined only by the alternating black and white lines that form the stripes.

See examples of Vasarely’s pioneering optical illusion artwork and the technique that he used to create such mind-bending artwork in the video below:

Patterns in Shape and Form

Patterns in shape and form have nearly infinite possibilities. Shapes include circles, triangles, ovals, squares, and so much more. Forms are shapes in their three-dimensional state, such as spheres or cubes. Forms also can be figurative.

Andy Warhol’s famous Marilyn Monroe silkscreen paintings indicate how patterns can be made through figurative form:

Andy Warhol would famously paint patterns of images and contrasting colors to create his pop art prints.

An iconic example of Warhol’s form patterns is found in his Campbell’s Soup Cans paintings created in the 1960s. The repetition of the oval cans produces regular patterns that have only slight variations that are not noticeable at first glance.

Upon further observation, you’ll discover that the only difference between each can is the label that distinguishes them by their variety (beef, chicken, onion, etc.)

With the Campbell’s Soup Cans, Warhol’s goal was to copy the repetition and uniformity of advertising by meticulously recreating the same images on each separate canvas.

Learn about the importance of Warhol’s patterned soup cans in this video below:

Gustav Klimt was an Austrian 20th century Symbolist painter renowned for his oil painting artwork The Kiss, displayed above. The spectacular painting includes an array of shapes––circles, rectangles, squares, organic forms, and more––that are arranged in unique patterns.

With the figurative forms of the couple in love and the details of the tiny shapes, this captivating work is an example of how both shape and form can be utilized in creating a pattern in art.

Patterns Principle – Key Takeaways

Patterns are one of the seven principles of art. Patterns are made through repetition and by organizing a design in an orderly manner. This occurs through the arrangement of shapes, lines, and forms in a way that allows the art elements to repeat.

Patterns are important in art because they help to bring order and balance. They can also be used to create rhythm and movement, emphasize certain art elements, and draw the viewer to the work.

Four important types of patterns in art are natural/organic, man-made, geometric, and irregular. Patterns can be made through color, line, shape, and form.

Patterns are a necessary tool in visual arts, as this principle allows them to create a limitless range of visual effects and depict a variety of ideas and emotions through their artwork.

Patterns Principle – Infographic