Pattern and Texture

What Is a Pattern?#

Look at your shirt. Look at the wallpaper in your house. Look at a tiger's stripes or a butterfly's wings. Do you see something repeating over and over again?

That is a pattern! A pattern is when shapes, colors, or lines repeat in a regular, predictable way. Patterns have a motif — the single unit that repeats — and a sequence — the order in which it repeats.

Patterns Everywhere#

Patterns are everywhere in the world around us:

• A checkerboard: black and white squares alternating
• A striped shirt: colored lines repeating side by side
• A brick wall: rectangular shapes in neat rows
• A zebra's coat: black and white stripes
• A honeycomb: hexagon shapes packed together

Nature creates beautiful patterns. Artists create patterns too, to make their work more interesting and decorative.

Types of Patterns#

There are different ways a motif can repeat:

Repeating pattern: The same motif repeats in the same way over and over. Like ABAB (circle, square, circle, square...).

Alternating pattern: Two or more motifs take turns. Like ABABAB or AABBAABB.

Growing pattern: The motif gets bigger or smaller as it repeats. Like small circles, medium circles, large circles, small circles...

Random pattern: Motifs are placed freely without a strict order, but still create a sense of repetition. Like scattered stars on fabric.

Why Do Artists Use Patterns?#

Patterns make art look organized, rhythmic, and beautiful. They can fill a large space without looking empty. They can create a sense of movement — your eyes follow the repeating shapes across the picture.

Patterns are also very important in decorative art, such as fabric design, pottery, tile work, and architecture. The next time you see a decorated building or a woven rug, look for the repeating patterns!