Carve December 2017: Some of my Favorites! (part 4: patterns)

Today I’m sharing just a few of the amazing patterns that people created during Carve December!

Sigh.  I could just stare and stare and stare at these patterns all day long.  I looooove pattern making!  It’s fascinating to me how a small image can become so much more when repeated over and over again.

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A (Very) Brief History of Pattern Making and Block Printing

Pattern making and block printing are among the oldest artistic practices in human history. Repeating motifs appear in ancient pottery, textiles, and architecture across cultures, reflecting both decorative desire and symbolic meaning.

Woodblock printing emerged in China as early as the Tang Dynasty (7th–10th century), used to print textiles and later books—most famously the Diamond Sutra (868 CE), one of the earliest known printed books.

The technique spread across Asia and into the Islamic world, where intricate geometric and floral patterns flourished in textiles and tile work. By the Middle Ages, block printing was used in Europe for fabric decoration and devotional images.

In the 19th century, artists like William Morris revived hand block printing as part of the Arts and Crafts Movement, emphasizing craftsmanship and the beauty of repeat design.

In the 20th century, block printing became central to modern art movements, from Japanese ukiyo-e influencing Impressionists to contemporary artists embracing pattern for its rhythm, symbolism, and visual power.

Today, pattern making and block printing continue to bridge fine art, craft, and design, linking ancient traditions with contemporary creative practice.

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What I Learned

Some things I’m taking away from the Carve December pattern block and prints:

• The impact of color.
• The impact of the contrast between open and closed space.
• That patterns can be created from almost any kind of shape.
• That we *want* to see patterns and see them — even when things don’t line up perfectly.
• Patterns don’t need to be seamless to be arresting.

Thanks for stopping by!

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Related Posts:

• Carve December 2017: Some of my Favorites! (part 1: miscellaneous)
• Carve December 2017: Some of my Favorites! (part 2: animals)
• Carve December 2017: Some of my Favorites! (part 3: nature)
• Carve December 2017: Some of my Favorites! (part 5: people and people parts)