Grid art

A personal look at some memorable grid patterns

Unlike most of the pages on this site, this list is completely subjective. It's a collection of grid patterns that caught my eye for one reason or another. As you explore this web site, look for "thumbnail" links that take you to more collections with interesting properties.

Click any puzzle to see the full view. Hover over a grid to see the author.

Fri 8/22/2008
RUSSIANLANGUAGE
INTERLEAGUEPLAY
ASANALTERNATIVE
THRONESENRICOS
AUERRAGESMATH
STRAGGLEDSENTA
SLEETVESTED
RICUNSAFERESE
EMOTESTINTO
PALOSMARESNEST
IGORCENTRENTO
PISTOLARADIOER
INSURANCEBROKER
NEARESTRELATIVE
GREENHOUSEGASES
This amazing grid by Kevin G. Der has only 18 blocks, the fewest in my database...
Fri 3/11/2005
BEATSADEADHORSE
ETHNOCENTRICITY
EVENINGTHESCORE
TOAEERIESTREL
LIDADACESKIWI
ELORODELEGATED
SAFARIEDDEBARS
BENDNUMB
DORIANTOPMASTS
ANECDOTALALPHA
MEGACUBITAUER
ACABERATERNRA
GETSONESIRISHUP
ENTENTECORDIALE
STARSINONESEYES
edging out the former champion Manny Nosowsky who had 19.
Fri 12/2/2005
ATWTATIPMANES
DRESSREHEARSALS
MISAPPROPRIATES
INTROSPAMBICS
TIEISEEEPCOT
TRULYSADANRA
URNSNEONREAIM
NOODLESNORELCO
ITMAYSPAROPTS
TOEITERCACAO
LLANOOLAFSAW
SUEDPITALOTSA
HETEROSEXUALITY
INTELLIGENCEMEN
VEERSNEROSERE
No two black squares touch in this puzzle by Patrick Merrell.
Thu 3/16/2000
BOGJOE
CLOAKFATAL
POOHBAHORBISON
ANTSREUNESITE
MATCLATTERETA
NOAHDAHEBRO
SAYCHEESE
AZALEABRIEFS
PROEASTERNOUT
EEOTHEMASKUSE
PALSIMNPR
URANIAORATES
PUTONAHAPPYFACE
GRINANDBEARIT
YRSCDSNON
This puzzle has the most blocks — 53.
Fri 1/21/2005
ULSTERLAPCAT
PICAROSTOPRATE
SEAMISTRUPERTS
ENTICERADEPTAT
TOTASTEDEALERS
REMOTESENSORS
DINETTESETS
VED
HERMETICISM
RAREINSTANCES
FERNANDINHALED
ACDELCOONELANE
ROISTERNORANDA
CUSTERSSNIGGER
EPHORSSTEERS
This one has the lowest word count at 52.
Sun 7/25/2004   CUED IN
FAQAPPALLEDITCRUD
ECUOCEANICEURORARE
ITIWHERETHERESAQUILL
NICKNOLTEARIDAXL
TOKEOEILIMEANITBBL
SNEESRASMARTASAQUIP
RNSSLITENTRUSTS
EBBETSSNOREDHIE
PEANUTSSWEDISHERI
ERSPOINTQUAKEFOREST
EEKINSERTCREWELLEE
STEADYQUIRKIGETAEES
STSORDAINSRATTAIL
TANEXMATESHASTA
IRRITATEISNTEVE
QUARTZANDALLDHLEQUI
SECAIRRAGESORERUPP
EXCORESPROMENADE
HOWTHEQUESTWASWONVAC
AJARLETTANTEINGETA
GOYAIDEOTWEENSREC
I like the graceful curve running down the middle of this one...
Fri 12/10/2004
ASSOCIATEDPRESS
THEBACHELORETTE
FIRSTHANDREPORT
ARIESSONAR
UKESATBAYTINA
LESSCREDITAGT
TRIESHARDERNEE
SAINTOLAF
DAGSECONDCLASS
RUESVELTEACTI
ORTSASTORTEEN
PEEPSATTIC
LOVEANDMARRIAGE
ELECTRICTOASTER
TENSEATMOSPHERE
and the two hooks about to latch here.
Sat 2/14/2004
FLIESATHALFMAST
LOSTONESBALANCE
ADLAIESTEVENSON
TEASETSLISTENS
WENHOLEE
POPULACE
AMERICANSPANISH
RESIDENTIALAREA
CROSSREACTIVITY
PASSESAS
FANGLIKE
IFORONEANILIDE
ALBERTALLIGATOR
TEETERTOTTERING
SALESASSISTANTS
A grid that looks like a post-modern masterpiece.
Sat 3/18/1995
MOONOVERPARADOR
ALTERONESCOURSE
HEARTOFDARKNESS
AGRODOYLETWIT
LSUFOREMANSEE
BLOCIGET
ANALYSECEMENTS
BUNDTEXIST
ANAGRAMPESTLES
SAMELOIS
CDRPATROLSBBC
PRIMTHEEIROLL
LOVELEADSTHEWAY
UPAROUNDTHEBEND
SALESRESISTANCE
Another pretty one.
Fri 9/7/2007
STOPSINQUIVIVE
HOPINTOUNMORAL
IREPEATACUTELY
ANNEEAFRSELES
TOSSBRUTEDARE
SUEFRIZZLENIE
UTAHJAZZELUDES
MONEYBAGS
RECORDMENISCUS
EPADECAGONRKO
NILEDOTERBARN
ETONSAHNCONAN
GORETEXTWINKIE
EMIRATELARGENT
DECOYEDENCODES
This lovely grid pattern is popular, appearing 9 times in my database. Here's the most recent.
Sat 8/19/2006
KOPUNCHGIGOLOS
IRONOREEVIDENT
PITCREWTENDSTO
SNLDEEJAYSAHL
BOUTDRUGBEL
ACCRASSRSURGE
YOKELSTIEONEON
POWERPACK
GOFIGURETHEMGS
AVIDMILOSPARE
TEXCANSTREX
ERINSIXTUSTAP
MANAGEDALLRISE
EGGROLLPLAINER
NESCAFEEATDIRT
This one has 9 occurrences too, all from the same constructor: Bob Peoples.
Sun 10/13/2002   DOWNWARD SPIRAL
ERDEPOTATOCOMSAT
REEVEALCOHOLSODETTA
EDSELLITTORALPETROL
COOLIDGEOROITSHANK
TEXNEROASONEDANCE
SYRARSONOKAUNDER
REAMHOMONYMPOS
FLIPTOPSTOSSGOLONG
LIBELLAWODOADENFAR
ECONEYEONSONANTAVA
DENTCOLOOKIEEDAM
GNUPULLONBOASTNORM
ESCALASONOREINSURE
DELETEANOSASCRIBES
EXTEUROPOPCALL
SNIPESNONOTDOEES
MACONASODDOWEDHUB
ETASFUNOHOONEPIECE
LUCITEATNOTIMEPOLKA
TRINESPHOTOLABSTILT
SEDGESORISONAXES
The squares with circles (yellow here) are all O's and they form a nice representation of a double helix in this DNA-themed puzzle.
Sun 7/1/2007   DIAMOND JUBILEE
ASPIRATORSSTIMULANT
ELIMINATEDOPERASERIA
FIELDTRIPSPARKRANGER
PDASOSSEDLUG
SATBYAFTSNBASTAR
OTTERCAIROLGAAHSO
MRERAINMANSARAISON
SERBDIKMOLDIEREINE
KARATSADENOONTARGET
METHSRAEEREOSNYS
TESTATEWHOSONF
ASASIRARMEHSARTI
FORGETITGOBADSPURNS
ELMOEARLOBEETSNACL
WOODSTYEINVADESCOO
NUDEEMELEHRSASKME
GRENADEDETSSTOMP
SIPGOHSKYMEL
GRASSSKIRTGROUNDBEEF
NOVELETTESSILHOUETTE
POSSESSESUNENDORSED
I like this baseball diamond grid.
Sun 3/19/2006   ALWAYS FELT THIS WAY
PWATCHOPENSEAHOTP
SAHARAERRATUMOLAV
ISOMERNOTRAREOSTE
ZOOMSMOVEITREHEAT
ENTITLEESTEICANSO
ASAAMOCO
SPERMBANKARAESPO
CACAOSNAPOPENZHOU
ALOTOFASOFLEGREST
GENERICBOFFNEARTO
REVISALLEGOREF
PPCSEIGHTBALLAIRP
KIAEMITALTOIDS
NEPALISABEISEENOW
ICERINKFLAPHAVETO
FERNUNCLETOMNEVIN
ESSOTOOSPICERACK
GETITENS
POINTBFOODDATSUNS
INDOORFEVERSHANOI
COLDEDUCATEYELLED
KNEEAERATEDETOILE
PERSKEEPERSPANTSP
This rectangular puzzle has an odd but appropriate shape.
Mon 10/6/2008
ONEGLESDOLLARHBOZONE
POTROASTEUGENEEARLOBES
THEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA
NORRIPOSTEBB
SSTINGODWETRUSTAMS
EAUESCTEAACTYOWAAH
GREATSEALWISEBALDEAGLE
GAMMARAYSEVELSTEELDOOR
ONEALXEDYELLAERDOONE
This one too.
Thu 1/1/2004
BETAMAINEARAB
ONERARDORDEMO
SYMBOLFORSULFUR
CAPONREESE
ERABESTIRRED
FARERAGEE
ERATOHOTNUMBER
ACTUPNEEDY
THEMESONGSTAIN
ARIAHAUTE
REFASTENSOPT
ALINERHINE
CONTRACTIONOFIS
EPEEHOARDRUNS
SESSAGREESLOE
How about some Letter puzzles. Every clue in this one starts with the letter S.
Fri 6/17/1994
HERONCAGER
CAYENNEALAMODE
OLDLACERESUMED
MARYUDDERSALE
ANOPELLETSNIN
GELEININT
SHEREDISGOWNS
HENNANOONE
APSISLADASHEN
SEEOBILEU
DAYSLEEVESNBA
EMMAASTINADAM
AMBLERSDELIRIA
FOOTAGEEMINENT
LATERSYNOD
Each clue starts with an H here...
Fri 11/10/1995
KOSABODEMBA
RATEMORAYJOEL
UTESICAMEARGO
PERSONALPRONOUN
ARNEBPENNE
BLTHUH
TROLLERENTWINE
SURVIVEACHATES
PERIGEEPLANETS
ARSSEL
ASSETMALAY
SYMBOLFORIODINE
CRIBALGERETNA
AITSSARTOSUES
PAHTWEENPET
and an I here...
Wed 3/12/2008
ATMPROMOSTACT
BOACOGENTAVOW
CARSTARTERPELE
ESMERAEROE
POETMUDGUARD
RIPSSWANSONG
INCAHODDEAD
AGOGHEDDAEMMY
MOTOEONRAIL
CASHESINORCA
SPELLOUTAKIN
ARNANCASST
LETSCLAMPSHAPE
AGEEHIREONDEN
DORAODISTSDAD
and C here.
Mon 9/9/2002
BOCATSARJUT
ADAPTATTICONO
WILLATEMPONIN
LEMONLAWTREATY
MGTITCHY
LABORLEADER
AILIRREGULAR
MAPMALAISEOXO
PROPAGATENIT
LINCOLNLOGS
TIETOALB
SITARSLAVALAMP
PGAETHELMONDE
EELDIANAANKLE
DRYCMONGAIN
Every clue in this one starts with L and the black squares make a dozen more Ls.
Sun 12/5/2004   FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL RECORD BOOKS
LOONALAIBIZASTOLE
ETNAMARKTWAINBOREAL
WITHOUTSAYINGTHEWORDI
DOHFSTOPSEABED
ESETEENASPSLOTTLC
REFEEDSWILLIEPOCHAL
OVAJAMAICANREBA
ADUECHERTEEMSHIMON
TURNRAFFLESEQUATOR
EMTSUNFAIRDRUBSNUS
ABHORSERTDIIIHORNE
TWOADOREMUSCLYGOIN
AFFIRMSCANTATALEON
GIJANEOOHSONSOEDNA
ETUIANTIHEROPRO
SELLERSCLINTFRESCOS
TRYMITTLEDFLEATUM
SECRETPRESSRTE
WROTEAONESENTENCEWILL
VANERNSAMMYSOSAANET
ADAMSERASENENGETS
This puzzle has a C made out of circles for Clinton. No, the other one.
Tue 10/31/2000
STAMPILSAAXLE
ERRORCULLTREX
METROPOLISRANT
SKYPINUPSAYSO
CHESSSETVEL
PEKOESSOLIDS
CARATSTEPPES
STYXWASINGIGI
PETITESPROUD
ASTROSSEENTO
TAOLESSSURE
LINEDNEHRUESS
ALIAMANOFSTEEL
SOTSIRONEARLE
TREYGERESCOLD
Here's an S for Superman...
Sun 4/11/2004   WE'RE #2!
ADAPTORAPPLIERSUSAF
RELIEVECRABTREEFIFE
YANKEEDEREKJETEROLGA
ALIENRACESELEVVHS
NICANOSPASNIPEAT
SNOAWSSMASHACORNS
IVEHEARKENSELM
MISDIDAMNESIACPIERS
ABELSSRINTHRODIN
RECYCLEDEXGIOWEAPO
SROABADIODELASLOO
AINROBINXSBASILISK
LADERAGAMARDESTE
ANGLESUPERMANPEWTER
OMNSTENCILSIND
OWLETSROASTTNTALP
REFRACTSSNTAOEER
ACHLOAFOVERCHARGE
TAOSTHEELEMENTHELIUM
ORLYCOLLAGENALLOFME
REEDHELIPORTREDEYED
and a 2...
Sun 2/13/2000   GROOVY KIND OF LOVE
MASTFACESOMARERRED
ALTOAROMACARANAIVE
YOUMAKEMEFEELBRANDNEW
SECEDEREELSEEING
KIDSASSOONBOSOMS
ADOOHIOTOEINRYES
SINKTURNTOVETSBEA
KEYEDONGROANAHEMS
INONETHRILLSDEMILLE
NEUTERUNFEDREAPPLY
POORSDANTE
ABASHEDHAPPYARCHER
VERMEERNEMESESELOPE
ARECATIEUPALSATIA
TIASCANLEGATEMDCC
SETHNAMESATITISH
SHEBATSURVIVEWAG
LEARNSMAINTINGOD
FEELSLIKETHEFIRSTTIME
APSESPIPEJUNTAETAL
MISDOSPARALTERDYNE
and a heart for Valentine's Day...
Fri 7/10/2009
CFOMRS
CREVECOEUR
LAURELSDOLORES
ABERRATIONSGTO
PALESTINEHEIL
SLATHERSSTAPLE
SNOODREHIRE
DUEPRONETO
SHUTPREMARITAL
PUNRELATEENE
IMUSOVINEACTA
TOSCAEECESTOP
TRUECONFESSIONS
EMANANTROSARIO
DELETESSWENSON
and a broken heart for other days.
Thu 8/25/1994
TRAFFICBICEPS
REPLICAGROUPIE
INHABITRATRACE
PEERSSTAABUTS
OGLEIPASSSLUR
DEICRABPOTERE
DARROWSLOTTED
BINAUK
CARIBOUACROSS
ARASUBDUESPPD
PAPATONGSLORE
SLITSAAUWINES
TSELIOTSTOPGAP
AERATESTORPEDO
NASSERATFIRST
I think this one is pretty.
Sat 7/15/2006
GELLEDABLEST
AQUAVITCRIMEA
SUMMONERROSINS
JAPANESEEATSAT
ETERNITYADESTE
TERRENCEGENIES
ASBESTOS
COSTSASTON
MAITREDS
VALLEEREDSTART
IRISESAPOLOGIA
ALBERTWATERLOO
CEREALLITERATI
ONEDGEREVERES
MESSESDESERT
This one too.
Fri 1/4/2008
SCALARIVINS
EASINESSCANOE
EPICTALESUPTHE
MOVIEFONEOHOH
STEADFASTCREPE
ONESTRIPER
WHERESTHEFIRE
SHAMESHEMINS
SCARESTHEHECK
PERPETRATE
INFEREMAILLIST
KERREMBROIDER
EXALTTELESCOPY
TITERDESCENTS
VISESSHYEST
I seem to like pinwheels.
Sat 12/15/2001
STICKSWISTER
TENONEDELPASO
INSPIRITBLIMPS
FLATFISHPOKERS
LENIENCEAMELIE
EYECREAMGELETT
RIFENESS
PROMDRESSES
PROPOSAL
RIESENCLERICAL
UNDERSLOVEGAME
GNAWATEVERETTS
RATITESENATORS
ATONERRETINAE
TERESARETAKE
Every answer word in this Frank Longo grid is at least six letters long. This is the only puzzle in my database with this property.
Thu 6/19/2008
OTTOSPRANGCAD
NEONHOAGIEIRR
ERRSENFANTGTE
SEEPLEASESAUS
ESSEESAURRS
CATCHAGLIMPSEOF
ICUETTO
LEAGUEERECTOR
OUGHTSREPRESS
GRATESILIESCU
AAATMAC
SEEINGEYECONC
TOLLGATESOKIE
RESILIENTDENS
TENERIS
This Joe Krozel grid is very deceptive...
Sat 3/7/2009
MORTARANDPESTLE
AVENGERORDERIN
COSTINGSIGNING
HIPODORIZELEA
IDOLSNIDESLOG
NANOSNCOSPINE
ELDUQUESTEINEM
WRUNIANE
ATPEACEUNLEARN
SHIEDLONSTRAT
HEEDLAUDESSTS
ARRDANIELSEAT
BECKETTRIPINTO
LIEOVERGHANIAN
ENDSONASOURNOTE
and this one has every possible kind of rotational, axial and diagonal symmetry. Note that it looks like a compass and has N, E, W, and S in the four unchecked squares.
Fri 3/20/2009
CHATERDASASIF
COLATORCHUTNE
CHARACTERACTORS
POBOYTSOHOPES
ATEESSISM
ATMNTSASA
SOAKEDTOTHESKIN
ATSOMEOTHERTIME
FILLINTHEBLANKS
ENAHESGAT
MVPENTGUS
OLMOSCIROBESE
FEELINONESBONES
FIREFREERASAP
SASSCESTATERN
A couple of weeks later, David Levinson Wilk showed he could do super-symmetry too.
Fri 10/30/2009
FRANCFINGOTTA
TORAHINAOTHER
ONEMOMENTINTIME
RDACALINERPS
DOODOODOODOODOO
FILCENVIG
THESAHARADESERT
OOXTEPLERNON
DUPLEXAPARTMENT
EEKCANHER
STRAITISTHEGATE
OATSATHALTOI
SWIMSUITEDITION
ANSAEEDMNOONE
DYERSSSSERNES
This super-symmetric grid has a record twelve 15-letter answer words.