Math Inspires Art Inspires Math . . .

First images of my latest project . .

My Spring Creativity Has Sparked!

After nearly a year of creative hiatus, I am excited to share the first images of my new project.

Since last August I have been focusing on improving my craft as a middle and high school Algebra teacher. I am inspired by my students to create a new series of prints weaving together math, art, and history.

The images above are illustrations of the Greek method for approximating the circumference of a circle by inscribing a series of polygons with ever increasing number of sides. The more sides a polygon has, the closer its perimeter is to the circumference of the circle. Ancient Greek mathematicians worked on calculating perimeters of polygons with more and more sides in an attempt to arrive at a definitive whole number ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter (or pi.)

The top image above is a circumscribed and an inscribed polygon (representing upper and lower bounds for calculating pi.) The lower image is an inscribed triangle and hexagon (a nod to Eudoxus’ “method of exhaustion.”)

These two mini prints are just me getting my feet wet–I’m also working on a larger print that I’ll share more about later . . .

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Published by printmakertracy

I am a printmaker living in Vermont. I print by hand with water-based inks on archival paper at my kitchen table. My work is inspired by my family, festivals and nature.

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