Kaleidoscope Universe, designed and hooked by Charlene Scott for Art Hits The Wall 2013
A kaleidoscope is a cylinder with mirrors containing loose, coloured objects such as beads, pebbles and bits of glass. As the viewer looks into one end, light entering the other creates a colourful pattern, due to the reflection off the mirrors. Coined in 1817 by Scottish inventor Sir David Brewster, kaleidoscope" is derived from the Ancient Greek kalos, "beautiful", that which is seen; hence observation of beautiful forms.
A Kaleidoscope operates on the principle of multiple reflection, where several mirrors are placed at an angle to one another, so they form a triangle. The angle creates several duplicate images of the objects. As the tube is rotated, the tumbling of the coloured object presents varying colours and patterns. Arbitrary patterns show up as a beautiful symmetrical pattern created by the reflections.
Modern kaleidoscopes are made of brass tubes, stained glass, wood, steel, gourds or almost any material an artist can use. The part containing objects to be viewed is called the 'object chamber' or 'object cell'. Sometimes the object cell is filled with a liquid so the items float and move through the object cell in response to a slight movement from the viewer.
A Kaleidoscope operates on the principle of multiple reflection, where several mirrors are placed at an angle to one another, so they form a triangle. The angle creates several duplicate images of the objects. As the tube is rotated, the tumbling of the coloured object presents varying colours and patterns. Arbitrary patterns show up as a beautiful symmetrical pattern created by the reflections.
Modern kaleidoscopes are made of brass tubes, stained glass, wood, steel, gourds or almost any material an artist can use. The part containing objects to be viewed is called the 'object chamber' or 'object cell'. Sometimes the object cell is filled with a liquid so the items float and move through the object cell in response to a slight movement from the viewer.
Recently a customer requested a Kaleidoscope design and having never done one I needed a bit of background. As my son says to me, every time I ask a question pertaining to the computer, Facebook or otherwise....I hear the annoying three words..."Google it mom!" I find that rather annoying when I just want the answer yesterday. I don't have time to waste on research when I have a perfectly computer literate, genius son available at my beck and call.
Apparently Kaleidoscope designs are relatively easy to construct in Photoshop if you know how to manipulate the program, so I turned to Shane to learn the technique and come up with a few designs. This is just one example using a simple Destilfink found on the internet. Two of the designs have the bird's head toward the center and the middle one is with the tails forming a cross as the center motif. he first and third design is the same except for the little hearts I had him add around the center square that seemed more interesting than the little smiley faces.
Apparently Kaleidoscope designs are relatively easy to construct in Photoshop if you know how to manipulate the program, so I turned to Shane to learn the technique and come up with a few designs. This is just one example using a simple Destilfink found on the internet. Two of the designs have the bird's head toward the center and the middle one is with the tails forming a cross as the center motif. he first and third design is the same except for the little hearts I had him add around the center square that seemed more interesting than the little smiley faces.
 The bird's heads are together and the design is untouched. |  The bird's tails are together creating a neat cross like center. |  The bird's heads are together with hearts added around the center square. |
Art Hits The Wall - Rug & Quilt Show
Kaleidoscope designs were the topic of this years Art Hits The Wall rug and quilt display. Try and catch the show – you have several venues to choose from up until Nov 24!!
What do you see when you imagine a Kaleidoscope?
Entrants have captured these images in fiber art for the 2013
Art Hits The Wall event.
Imaginations have run wild with vivid colours in various
shapes and sizes. Designers have created pieces of art as unique as they are for this juried show. Don't miss it!
Aug 6 – 19
Coastal Queens Place
8100 Hwy 103, Port Mouton, NS
902-947-3140
Sept 3 – 28
Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design
322 Charlotte Street, Sydney, NS
902-539-7491
Oct 7 – 19
Nova Scotia Fibre Art Festival
Cumberland County Museum and Archives
150 Church St.,
Amherst, NS
902-667-2561
Oct 23 – Nov 24
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Yarmouth
341 Main St.,
Yarmouth
902-749-2248
What do you see when you imagine a Kaleidoscope?
Entrants have captured these images in fiber art for the 2013
Art Hits The Wall event.
Imaginations have run wild with vivid colours in various
shapes and sizes. Designers have created pieces of art as unique as they are for this juried show. Don't miss it!
Aug 6 – 19
Coastal Queens Place
8100 Hwy 103, Port Mouton, NS
902-947-3140
Sept 3 – 28
Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design
322 Charlotte Street, Sydney, NS
902-539-7491
Oct 7 – 19
Nova Scotia Fibre Art Festival
Cumberland County Museum and Archives
150 Church St.,
Amherst, NS
902-667-2561
Oct 23 – Nov 24
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Yarmouth
341 Main St.,
Yarmouth
902-749-2248
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