Among textile goods, utensils, souvenirs and other items, one can often see things on which the meander is depicted. This is a beautiful pattern. If you know the pattern of building elements, it is easy to build it yourself on paper or on a computer. Using the tips from the article, you can easily decorate any object with beautiful curls.
Definition
Meander is one of the most common types of ornament, which was widely used in the art of ancient Greece.
The pattern is a line broken at right angles.
The same term is also called a sequence consisting of rounded bends of one line, having the form of concentric curls. It resembles a sea wave. The meander can be located both in the form of a tape, and go around the circumference.
Story
The ornament got its name from the winding Big Menderes River, which is located in modern Turkey. This word has even become a household word for bends of the channel.
The earliest use of the pattern was discovered in the Mezin Paleolithic site. He was depicted on a decorative bracelet. The meander is one of the primitive universal ornaments found even on the works of the red-skinned race of the New World.
It is very often found in works of art of the ancient East. It was especially widely used in Greece in the era of geometric style. It was later a characteristic feature of classicism and empire.
Where used in antiquity
In Greece, clothes, architecture, household items were decorated with a meander. It was a symbol of eternity. This value was achieved by the endless transition of one element of the ornament to another. In this way, a change of generations was shown, leaving the old, giving way to the new young. In fact, the ornament expressed life itself.
It was used in the reliefs and friezes of buildings, framed the edges of dresses, cut out on clay dishes, decorated furniture, made in the form of mosaics.
Modern application
The Greek pattern is now often used in book illustrations, as a pattern on bedding, clothes. In addition, you can find complex compositions in landscape design, in which the meander is taken as the basis. The photo clearly shows how this is done. Here is an imitation of the movement of water - a dry stream. It looks very original and decorative just due to the ornament.
Principles of drawing
The meander pattern is easy to make if you know the pattern of building elements. Any ornament, as a rule, is a sequence of repeating and alternating identical parts.
Here, even a single module seems complicated at first glance. In fact, if you see step-by-step execution, drawing such a thing will be easy. The first time is better to use a sheet of paper in a cage. This will greatly simplify the work. It will not be necessary to measure the length of each segment of the polyline.
So, the sequence of actions is as follows:
1. Draw the angle guides. Each side is equal to two units (cells, centimeters).
2. Perform a bend equal to half the length of the first elements.
3. Finish the module.
4. Continue also to the required number of components or the corresponding length of the ornament.
When you learn how to draw a Greek meander pattern on the cells, go to a regular sheet of paper. Without a grid, of course, it is more difficult to make, but, having trained, you can perform a smooth, beautiful ornament.
There is another possibility - to find a finished image on a computer or get it in a graphical editor. From the printed image, transfer the lines through the glass, for example, to your image sheet. Correct manually if necessary. This option is much simpler, since there are quite a lot of patterns, even vector ones. They can be printed at any scale or, in general, used as templates for decorating products in graphic programs.
Making a souvenir with an ornament
If you are interested in art, do needlework, use the meander to decorate your work. It can be performed in various techniques. For drawing on paper, cardboard, even fabric, a ballpoint or gel pen is suitable . The same materials easily make a temporary tattoo with complex curls of a meander in the form of a bracelet on the arm.
If you initially make a stencil or buy a finished one, it is quite possible to draw a pattern with paint. This method is suitable for batik technique, decoupage,
wood painting. The meander engraved on metal will look original. The ornament can decorate a decorative box made of a simple
aluminum can from soda.
The photo shows a sample of the souvenir. In your case, instead of the usual chaotic curls, a clear sequence of meander elements will be located. It will look just great! Making such an original gift is easy. As for decorating with ornaments, a meander is best suited for this. You can print the pattern on paper or transparencies. Place it on the finished scan of the casket and simply trace with a pencil along the finished lines. As a result, the pattern will be pressed on the surface of the metal sheet. It will turn out simply, quickly and beautifully.
So, you have learned the meaning of the word meander. This ornament can decorate various surfaces. Due to its geometry, it is concise and beautiful. It is not difficult to construct a sequence of such elements. You can easily use the pattern for decorating souvenirs in the style of hand-made and other objects.