Puzzle Art

A picture is divided into individual sections each having a distinctivevisual design element (such as geometric patterns, abstract designs,cartoons, and/or photographic images, possibly with variations incolor, texture, orientation, and/or proportion).

The division into sections preferably follows defined lines and bordersin the original design image, but a defined portion of the originalimage may be divided arbitrarily into multiple sections, and contiguousportions of the original image may be combined arbitrarily into asingle section.

The overall design may be thought of illustrating atheme including interrelated objects (or components of objects) whichin turn may each be sectioned to emphasize shadows, prospective etc. Inone embodiment, a separate shaped backing piece is fabricated for eachsection of the design, and a piece of fabric (or other flexiblematerial) appropriate for that section is placed over the front of thepiece and wraps around its borders.

The individual fabric-coveredbacking pieces may then assembled into the desired design. Otherembodiments involve similarly sectioned design elements constructedfrom other materials, some of which are suitable for more utilitarianapplications, while others provide entertainment and learningexperiences for the visually impaired.

A computer may be used to assistin the selection and fabrication of the various design elements.