Giant Drawing Machines by Nick Sayers
Playful geometric drawing machines I've made from scrap bicycles, bike parts and wood – inspired by classic children's toys Spirograph,
Sketch-a-Graph and Harmonograph. Made from familiar materials, these contraptions demonstrate maths and mechanics in a fun, interactive way.
Sketch-a-Graph and Harmonograph. Made from familiar materials, these contraptions demonstrate maths and mechanics in a fun, interactive way.
Bicycle Spirograph 4 (Paper), 2019
Trace five-colour Spirograph patterns (hypotrochoids) with felt tips on 21cm square art paper, with an adapted child’s bike. Adjustable linkage pinsand colour choices create different patterns. Designed to fit in airline hold baggage (originally for South Korea art festivals).
Trace Spirograph patterns (hypotrochoids) in paint or sand, with an adapted toddler bike. Adjustable radius creates five different patterns. Designed to fit in airline hold baggage (originally for an art symposium in Egypt).
Draw inverse Spirograph patterns (epitrochoids) with an adapted scrap bike, on 30cm square art paper to take away. 15 gears produce 15 different patterns.
Bicycle Harmonograph, 2015
Draw Lissajous curves on A3 art paper to take away, using an adapted scrap bicycle. Different gears and linkage points create different patterns.
Enlarging Pantograph, 2015
Enlarge your hand to 200% scale onto an A3 poster.
With a group of friends, choose a Spirograph pattern from a scrap bike's 18 gears, and take it in turns to rotate the bike around its crank, creating a giant 1.5 metre flower-like Spirograph pattern with sand. Take a selfie standing in the middle of the finished pattern!
Bike Cog Spirograph drawing activity, 2012
Draw Spirograph patterns on A4 paper to take away, using bike cogs and laser-cut wheels. Different cogs and wheels create different patterns.
Draw a miniature 1:6 scale body outline of your friend directly onto A4 paper.
I have brought these machines to several science and art events. They are very popular with children, families and adults alike.
I have brought these machines to several science and art events. They are very popular with children, families and adults alike.
Bicycle Spirograph 4 (Paper), South Korea, 2019
Bicycle Spirograph 3 (Paint), Egypt, 2018
Bicycle Spirograph 2 (Paper), 2017
Bicycle Spirograph 2 (Paper), 2017
Bicycle Spirograph 2 (Paper) — 15 patterns available from different gears
Bicycle Harmonograph (detail)
Bicycle Harmonograph
Enlarging Pantograph
Enlarging Pantograph
Giant Pantograph at Maker Faire Brighton 2011
Giant Pantograph at Brighton Science Festival (detail)
Bicycle Spirograph 1
Bicycle Spirograph 1 (Sand)
Bicycle Spirograph 1 (Sand) at Festival of Imagineers, Coventry, August 2015
Bike Cog Spirograph drawing activity
