Circuit Boards

Another characteristic of Celtic/Anglo-Saxon art is 'knotwork'. Lines and ribbons are taken on never-ending journeys through complex repeats of flyovers and underpasses.

Make knotwork-like designs from old electronic circuit boards

• Get hold of an old circuit board from a broken piece of electronic equipment (radio, tape/ CD player, video recorder, computer) (See Circuit image).
• Select a small part of the circuit and make a sketch of it (somewhere near a corner or an edge is best)
• Trace your sketch onto tracing paper and transfer the design four times to a page in your Research Book. Draw on the back of the tracing paper, flip it over and draw over again - repeat, to produce a rotated, mirror image pattern.
• Paint (see Circuit Drawing image)
• Scan the circuit board and select, repeat and flip a section of it using image manipulation software (see Circuit 2 and Circuit 3 images)
• Superimpose a transparent version of the design on one of your scanned textures (stained or torn paper, drawings, distressed paint surfaces, rusted iron, weathered wood, mechanical objects, rough or torn textiles) (see Iron and Circuit Knot images)
• Copy and produce further repeats (see Circuit Knot Repeat image)
• Print versions for your Research Book

Circuit

Circuit Drawings

Circuit 2

Circuit 3

Iron

Circuit Knot

Circuit Knot Repeat

Knotty Problems

Make knotwork-like designs from drawings of knotted string

• Take two lengths of string and dip one into black paint (use your own paint). Leave to dry
• Knot and twist the two strings together into a complicated tangle.
• Make careful observational drawings of the tangle from different angles. As with the circuit board patterns above select, trace and repeat to form a pattern.
• Transfer and paint. Try a similar technique with knotted wires. Look at the tangle at the back of your computer! (see Knots and Knots images)

Knots

More Knots