Mathematics, particularly the theme of Geometry played a large role in almost all of the work Escher created in his life time. He would often use tessellation's and his use of polyhedral and geometric distortions have been an inspiration to both mathematicians and scientists over the last century.
exploring the Elements and Principles of Art along with different media and techniques such as pencil, acrylic paint, watercolor, printing, and some sculpting. Students are expected to keep an open mind and creative spirit. Students are also expected to develop their own ideas.
Escher's Waterfall is based on the Impossible Triangle of his friend and admirer Roger Penrose, the British mathematician and physicist. In fact, Escher incorporated not one but two Penrose tribars, as they are now known, in his lithograph.
Escher was obviously really good at math. I like to use him as an example of how art and math connect and why math is a cool subject. (Michelle, math is cool! you know the MS kids attitude!) :)
Here is our physical realization of Escher's Waterfall. You
can also watch this object rotating in space in this avi movie. This realization stems
from using three joint Penrose triangles along the water stream.
Note also the way the house is warped so as to look natural from this
viewing direction (only).
"The ascent to the highest story is by stairs, and
at their side are water engines, by means of which persons, appointed
expressly for the purpose, are continually employed in raising
water from the Euphrates into the garden."
Sometimes my students draw things like thing on accident when they are trying to draw things in believable space. At first they don't understand how to arrange objects in space so objects they want to be far away appear close up and vice versa...