Floral and Tribal patterns

Throughout history, design had taken huge turns and different interpretations on how interiors, architectures and even street design should be and how it shouldn’t be. During Art Nouveau times, objects and houses were highly decorated and designers made designs using floral patterns, included animals and made street signs with decorated typing. By the late 19^th century things had started to take a turn to more simple and linear structures and designs.

William Morris, Floral design

This was the time of the industrial revolution were objects were being mass-produced. The skill of a craftsman was being destroyed by mass-production and objects started loosing their quality. Not everyone agreed with this new concept and one such man was William Morris, who was an artist, designer, printer and more. He felt that quality should be valued and strongly believed in the skill of the craftsman. Therefore he formed a movement, which later on got the name of the ‘Arts and Crafts’ movement. This movement pursued the idea of design and art moving alongside each other and against the poor quality of goods during the industrial revolution.

Contemporary wallpaper design

Morris’ wallpaper designs were his most famous works were he studied floral patterns and nature’s beauty. His designs are still being used today and have major influences on pattern designs today. This pattern on the right is a contemporary design, which shows influence from William Morris having the floral pattern, but still shows modernity, as it is very clean, monochromatic, well balanced and harmonious. By comparing the design above and this one, you can make out some similarities, like the way the flower is depicted and the repetition.

My drawing shows tribal patterns of an observational drawing of a tribal mask I have in my room in my own interpretation, having made a contrast between warm and cold colors and symmetrically balanced. Although it is not of a floral pattern I chose to depict the repetition of the pattern to create interest and harmony just like the repetitive floral patterns of the wallpaper designs.

Paul Saliba, Tribal Patterns, Acrylic

Paul Saliba, Tribal mask, pencil 

At the time of the industrial revolution, new materials and techniques were being discovered such as plastics, tubular steel, chrome and more. This was all for the war effort where bentwood, a new technique at the time, was being used for casts, new material, plastic, was being experimented with and new technologies, all to build better war planes, transport and more. Government funded schools for designers like the Bauhaus, which was founded in 1919, educated designers to make designs more efficient and had form following function. Modern architecture is more linear and geometric stripped down from all the excessive decoration, which was not practical.

With the invention of the steam engine and the car, designers had whole new other ways to experiment with, even new materials gave opportunity for a whole new level of designs and possibilities. Also with the help of the arts and crafts movement, we have quality assurance of today and we have to be very grateful for William Morris as now mass production has to follow certain procedures to ensure quality and reliability.

William Morris - The Arts and Crafts Movement. 2015. William Morris - The Arts and Crafts Movement. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/graphic_designers/william_morris.html. [Accessed 05 January 2015].

The Bauhaus, 1919–1933 | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2015. The Bauhaus, 1919–1933 | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of

Art. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/bauh/hd_bauh.htm. [Accessed 05 January 2015].

From Real to Surreal

Since the early years of mankind, art had an important role in shaping cultures and societies, effecting all civilization. People who believed in art that was sacred, others who used art as propaganda and there was even rebel artists who courageously, used art to protest and even go against traditions, changing the course of art as we know it.

Edouard Manet, Impression Sunrise, Oil on canvas, 48 cm x 63 cm

Edouard Manet was an artist who was of the early artists “breaking away from tradition”.  You can see that unlike traditional methods, which gave importance to realistic painting and only sacred things, and people or objects of importance, Manet painted common life events and scenes. This style is called impressionism, and it is distinctive by the visible brushstrokes unlike paintings of his time, which gave full attention to detail. This type of painting was considered meaningless but the main aim of impressionist artists was to capture the effect of light, and how a single scene can show different impressions during different times of day.

Henri Matisse, Open Window, Collioure, 1905,
National Gallery of Art, Washington,
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. John Hay Whitney 1998.74.7

Artists had been influenced since then and art had started going through a big change. One of the earliest modern movements, Fauvism, was all about color and much less about detail. As you can see in Matisse’s ‘Open Window’, the colors are somewhat unrealistic. It feels like a dream. The ‘Open Window’ reflects the sunlight of the small Mediterranean fishing port of Collioure, in the south of France, were sunny weather is common. The amount of light in this port amazed Matisse, depicting his paintings in a dream like world bursting with bright colors. This was a completely new approach to painting during this time and opened the doors for modern art.

George Braque, Le Portugais, oil on canvas, 116.8 x 81 cm

            Peoples understanding of art continued to change rapidly in the early 20^th century where we find Cubism, one of the most influential style for innovation of the time. Beauty became less important as you can see in Braque’s ‘Le Portugais’, were there’s no detail at all. Art became more interactive with the audience and interpretation became for the viewer to decide for himself. You can also make out some text in the background. This was very new to art, predicting text as an image.

Paul Saliba, Swing, Chalk Pastels, A3

            I decided to develop an idea from the observational drawing of the ‘Swinging Lady’ below, and took inspiration from both Fauvism and Cubism. It was a good way to experiment with color and how to create balance with it. This is my first development, right, taking the form of the lady’s skirt and made some repetitions, resulting in a Cubist manner. The color scheme is bright and contrasting, balancing on the bright background.

Paul Saliba, Swinging Lady,
Aquarelles, A3

Cubism started to emerge all around the world were in Italy was called Futurism, in England, Vorticism, Constructivism in Russia and Expressionism in Germany. It still shapes art in today’s world. Such example is this drawing by Marcos Andruchak, ‘The Key’ below. A modern painting, reflecting Cubism and also Fauvism. It continues to inspire more and more contemporary artists.

Marcos Andruchak, The Key

It’s a huge change from the traditionally realistic painting, which covered about 400 years of human history. Realists, Impressionists and Cubists transformed art and is still very modern a quite influential on today’s art.

Henri Matisse and the Fauves. 2015. Henri Matisse and the Fauves. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.nga.gov/feature/artnation/fauve/window_1.shtm. [Accessed 05 January 2015].

The Influence of Art History on Modern Design - Cubism - Pixel77. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.pixel77.com/the-influence-of-art-history-on-modern-design-cubism/. [Accessed 05 January 2015].