
# [028](/028)

![canvas](https://res.cloudinary.com/abstract-puzzles/image/upload/w_2000/028_epg-jtq-tqp_bwy-ttq-irx-psd?raw=true)

This design introduces a third shape layer, 3x the fidelity of the first layer, and uses circles, pills, and quatrefoil shapes. I made the lines divide the shapes rather than sit on top of them, highlighting the arrangement of the shapes on the grid rather than overpowering them.

Similarly to my last 2 puzzles, I started this solve by fitting together the brightest colours. Due to the granularity of the shapes this resulted in lots of small islands of assembled pieces, it was fun and a little confusing to figure out how they all fit together.



# [026](/026)

![canvas](https://res.cloudinary.com/abstract-puzzles/image/upload/w_2000/026_plq-jpm_qtj-fvs-rxj-itc?raw=true)

The start of a series of grid-based artwork on a contrasting diagonal puzzle grid.

The first step in solving a normal puzzle is to find all the edge pieces and create the frame of the jigsaw, and then work inwards from there. I'd been finding that with my recent puzzles I was using the frame as a crutch, and relying a lot more on finding related pieces based on the alignment of their tabs than their surface design. For this series I wanted to shake that up, and force myself to engage with the visual design as well as the piece design.

I didn't want to move too far away from the traditional piece shape yet, but by turning them 45 degrees all the edge pieces become triangles - very easy to differentiate but impossible to form as a frame on their own. I made all the tabs for the edge pieces face out and combined the two corner pieces into one large triangle for structural integrity.

By using a non-cartesian grid I was also freed up to base the visual design on a cartesian grid without it conflicting with the pieces. Heavily inspired by [Matt Deslauriers'](https://www.instagram.com/mattdesl_art/) and [Manolo Gamboa Naon's](http://manoloide.com/) work with grids I started placing random configurations of circles, semi-circles, and squares on the canvas. The eureka moment came when I added a second layer of double the size, but offset it by half a cell.

Each layer has two colours, and by using different blend modes for each layer it generates a mostly-harmonious palette out of completely random hues. Each shape also has a random opacity - this doesn't add much to the work as a piece of art, but as jigsaw artwork, having slightly different colours across the puzzle makes it so much easier and more pleasant to solve.

I found this jigsaw a delight. Because I wasn't able to make a frame, I concentrated on the most distinct groups of colour and worked out from there. The puzzle had a good mix of pieces with straight lines, curved lines, and more complex intersections. It was discomforting to lay out the pieces on the diagonal initially instead of building the whole puzzle as a diamond, but a fun, fizzy sort of discomfort.



# [027](/027)

![canvas](https://res.cloudinary.com/abstract-puzzles/image/upload/w_2000/027_bmw-egh-mew_ekg-ymi-bat-oyf?raw=true)

Evolving from [026](/026), this design is on a smaller grid and uses a different set of shapes - circles, squares with two or three rounded corners, and [quatrefoils](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quatrefoil). I really like how the quatrefoil extends out of its grid cell and overlaps with the shapes around it (much like the buggy-but-it-looks-nice-that-way squares in [026](/026)). There's a higher chance of more plain pieces because of the larger shapes and higher piece count, so I added another layer of randomly-placed jointed lines across the design for an extra visual element.

Because the lines are so prominent I focused on connecting them during the solve instead of grouping areas of colour and connecting the edges of the shapes, which was a little disappointing.
