Pattern Coloring Pages — Tiles, Ribbons & Decorative Designs

Decide what repeats, then let the colors follow it.

On a tiled page, repeat a sequence by row, column or motif. Test two or three colors on the first few panels before filling the whole design. A background color can be the repeat while the central motifs change, or the motifs can match while their surroundings alternate. White space can be one of the choices in your sequence.

For flowing ribbons, trace the strip visually from one end before coloring so you can recognize where it reappears. In the ocean mosaic, choose a small family of blues for one current and a contrasting family for the other, rather than treating every tile as a separate decision. Turn the printed page when a curve becomes awkward to reach; in the studio, zoom in when neighboring regions are small.

Try a small project

Print Big Patchwork Squares twice and use the same four colors. On the first page, organize the colors by rows. On the second, organize them by motif and background. Compare which groups of shapes become most noticeable.

Open a drawing to choose its A4 or US Letter PDF, view the full-size art or color it online. Save several favorites to make a custom print pack. For paper settings, use the printing guide.