Geometric Coloring Page

This geometric coloring page is a neat pattern of hexagons that fit together like a honeycomb. Each hexagon holds a smaller hexagon with a six point star at its center, and trapezoid shapes frame every one. There are hundreds of small spaces to fill. It is made for teens and adults, and careful kids of about 10 and up.

This one is less about drawing and more about planning. The way you choose colors makes the whole page look different. Allow 45 minutes to an hour, or color a few hexagons at a time.

Who this page is for

Teens who love patterns, puzzles and math will enjoy this page. It is also a good way to unwind after homework, since each small space has a clear edge. Adults often like it because there is no drawing skill needed and there is no wrong answer.

Math and art teachers can use it to talk about tessellations, which are shapes that fit together with no gaps.

Geometric coloring page color ideas

Start with a small palette of three or four colors. Teal, blue, coral and yellow make a bright, modern look. For a stained glass feel, use jewel tones like ruby, sapphire and emerald.

Try making the sides of each hexagon alternate light and dark. It tricks the eye into seeing a raised block. Then color diagonal rows of stars in the same color, and a new pattern will appear across the page.

For something calm, use shades of a single color, from pale to deep.

Tips for perfect patterns

• Plan first. Color a single hexagon on scrap paper to test your idea.
• Use fine tip markers for clean, flat color in small shapes.
• Work in rows so you can see the pattern grow.
• Keep a ruler nearby to rest your hand on and to guide straight edges.

Fun facts about hexagons

The hexagon is one of only three regular shapes that can cover a flat surface with no gaps. The others are the square and the equilateral triangle. Bees build honeycomb in hexagons because this shape holds the most honey using the least wax. You can read more on Wikipedia.

Hexagons show up all over nature. Snowflakes have six sides, and the columns of rock at the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland formed as hexagons when lava cooled. Even a storm at the north pole of Saturn has six sides.

Artists have used patterns like this for a very long time. Old tile floors in Rome, mosques in Spain and quilts in America all use shapes that repeat. Quilters love hexagons too, and one well known old quilt pattern made from them is called Grandmother's Flower Garden. Search for a photo of it after you finish coloring this page, and compare the two patterns.

Things to do after coloring

Find the hidden shapes. Look closely and you may see triangles, stars, rhombuses and cubes. Ask a friend how many they can spot.

Try a tessellation of your own. Cut a hexagon from card, trace it over and over on paper so the sides touch, and add a simple design inside each one.

Make a group art piece. Print several copies, color them in matching colors, and tape them side by side on a wall. The pattern will spread like tile.

For a calm break, set a timer for ten minutes and color only one hexagon. It is a nice way to step away from a screen.

More detailed pages to color

Find more designs in our coloring pages for teens and adults. For a round pattern, try the star mandala coloring page.