Basic Celtic knot tutorial pt 1...

Today, I'm sharing short tutorials on creating--and modifying--a very basic weave or knot, which can be used as the foundation for any Celtic-inspired design. Part 1 walks you through creating a simple weave pattern using a 4 x 4 grid. Part 2 modifies the same knot pattern using a "break" to create a different design! ​

In the first video, you see how four closed links can be weaved together to create a knot, which is the basic construction for many Celtic designs. Knotwork is not exclusive to Celtic art--knotwork designs. It can be found in many cultures, both ancient and contemporary. The basic idea is to "weave" a "thread" in an over-under pattern. Once you master the basics, the possibilities are limitless! 

In the creative world, it is often necessary to return to the basics. So, with that in mind, I revisited simple shield knot designs. In so doing, I rediscovered the aspects of Celtic-inspired design and knotwork that kicked off my passion for that particular art form in the first place. While creating knot work designs can be complicated, the result is mesmerizing!

It is essential to understand that knot designs generally have to be "constructed"--in other words, you need to use a grid to create the foundation for the design. At the very least, you need to be able to visualize the result before you ever put pencil to paper!  It takes practice, practice, and more practice to learn this art form! While I am not a pro, I have the passion to learn. And revisiting the basics is always a good idea because we tend to forget the basics sometimes, don't we?! 

So enjoy the video! I hope it inspires you to attempt this fascinating drawing technique. If you have any of your experiences with knotwork, please feel free to share them in the comments! And don't forget to view Part 2 to see how we modified this design to create a different pattern!

(Special thanks to my son, Christian Lilly, for helping me with the video editing! Music from iMovies.)

Related blog posts you may want to read:
Celtic Knot tutorial part 2
Celebrating Irish Celtic art for St. Patrick's Day
The Celtic Motherhood Knot, a symbol of love
Celtic Tree of Life
A foray into customizable artwork
Getting out of my own way