This summer I put together this spoon flower boutique.
I am very pleased because I ordered samples. The fabric range is large and beautiful and the prints iS of very high quality, I will show you on this blog soon đŸ™‚
Vivace originaire d’Afrique du Sud. Le nom Agapanthus vient du grec ancien “agapÄ“” (αγάπη) signifiant “amour” et “anthos” (άνθος) signifiant “fleur”.
Cone-shaped flowers blooms that narrow evenly from the bottom to the apex of the flower to form a cone-shaped appearance .Many perennials develop cone-shaped blossoms during the spring and summer months. Typically, these flowers die out in the winter months and then come back to life in spring.
While looking for birds elements to insert into a pattern I felt like making a version of this birds shape with a kind of stamp texture. It can be of great decorative power: simple shape with randomly applied texture ( like ink on gummy transfert on grainy paper)
it’s a mock up – The birds were made with procreate as elements of a future floral pattern
Before starting any new pattern design, I like to explore my flowers and leaves mood. I am going for simplified realistic shapes or making my own imaginary mix? here used ny graphic exploration of Morning Glory lines. (in portfolio)
Je pense aussi Ă ces voix que l’on entend et qu’on identifie en moins d’une seconde, qui nous sont plus proches que celles de nos vies quotidiennes, Robert Badinter , Simone Veil, Kamel Daoud et Romain Gary …
The acanthus (my sketches in Blog) is a large-leafed plant common in the Mediterranean region
Last summer I registered to Skillshare. I followed the course of Barbel Dressler . My emerging passion for acanthus started with her course “drawing acanthus”. All of her courses are just great and impressive by the amount of information she provides. It isn’t only about practical exercices, she also explores a large range of abstract knowledge and go back and forth between knowhow and knowledge. Just Brilliant!
I wanted to write this post in french (since I have loads of documentation but my starting point was Barbel Dressler informations so here it is, in english. Please excuse my grammar and spelling mistakes sprinkled around.
I haven’t yet made a pattern with acanthus motif. it will be done soon.
Barbel Dressler copy right 2020
The name derives from greek acantha = thorn
Most commonly depicted plant since ancient Greece and Rome. It plays significant role in art and design (architecture & home design). The Specific intangible beauty of its shapes, lines and details inspired classic motifs.
The legend
Acantha (Ancient Greek: Ἀκάνθα, romanized: AkĂ¡ntha, lit. ‘thorn’) is often claimed to be a minor character in Greek mythology whose metamorphosis was the origin of the Acanthus plant. Acantha’s myth however does not appear in any classical source.
The tale supposedly goes that Acantha was a nymph loved by the god Apollo. Acantha, however, rebuffed Apollo’s continued advances and scratched his face. As a result, Apollo transformed her into the Acanthus, a plant with spiny leaves.
In Greek legend the Athenian architect and sculptor Callimachus one day happened to pass a tomb, near which he saw an acanthus plant enfolding both a tile and a basket. He was inspired by the sight to design a capital for a column, since known as the Corinthian order.
According to an earlier Greek legend, a young girl died, and her devoted nurse collected her trinkets and ornaments and placed them in a basket near her tomb and covered them with a tile. The nurse set the basket down on an acanthus root, whose stalks and leaves grew up enfolding the basket. It was this tomb that Callimachus saw.
The shapes
Big broad plant with side nerves coming from the center. There is difference between real plant and designed version all over the world. The original shape is exaggerated and enhanced for a stylised version all over the world
The ancien greek first started to use the acanthus leaves as a motif to adorn columns , the roman version: an other style emerged based on Acanthus Mollis : broader, more curvy
The column where classified into 5 order: toscan – doric – ionic – corinthian- composite
Acanthus spinosus versus Acanthus Mollis
Acanthus mollis is very similar to Acanthus spinosus. The main difference being the leaves and flowers:
Serrated Leaves: Acanthus spinosus is characterized by its serrated leaves. Acanthus spinosus leaves have sharp, tooth-like edges that give the plant a distinct and jagged appearance. In contrast, Acanthus mollis has broader and softer leaves, lacking the serration found in Acanthus spinosus.
Flower Spike Production: Acanthus spinosus has the upper hand when it comes to flower spike production. This plant produces more flower spikes compared to Acanthus mollis, giving it a showier and more vibrant display of blooms.
The greek version: leaf are based on Acanthus Spinosus – more pointed narrower lobes ( building temples)
The Byzantin acanthus got chukier, more simplified and stylised. ( used as leaves. not so much scrolls)
The medieval motif is simplified. specially // wood carving ands often used as a motif in books illustration / illumination: longer tendrils, more elaborate scrolls and use of the S line . The S line may have been used before but starting to emerge with illustration on paper
Gothic acanthus leaves and scrolls: more round with bulb form… later it became more bizarre and esteem with extra long extended tendrils that look almost fizzle
With renaissance occurs a significant jump in style – much more elaborate and delicate style with more details shapes and lines
With the baroque time : acanthus leaves became even more extreme especially with the rococo and neoclassical period with no end to the swirling, curling and bending
All of this themes took inspiration from the classical period of the greeks
In second half of the XIX century beginning of XX century, the art and design style were heavily influenced by the pre raphaelites and the art and craft movement. Compared to the romantic period (XVIII), the acanthus became a little bit more robust
with art nouveau there was more imaginary elements, new type of details ans extension of the leave appeared.
and art deco: goes back to a more classical and strict look again
Barbel Dressler copy right 2020
I did not find better and simpler view and explanations on the web than Barbel Dressler’s ressources that I re-organised here with colors for my instinctive visualisation. I recently started to use this blog also as a display of useful images and documents for me and may be for others- See other basic leaf shapes in Blog.
A key figure in the Arts & Crafts Movement, Morris championed a principle of handmade production that didn’t chime with the Victorian era’s focus on industrial ‘progress’.
William Morris prefers sentiments to sentimentality, natural simplicity to artificial profusion.
Critical of the industrial era, he does not object to the machine themselves but to their use by some to produce profit through the exploitation of other. He views art as an indicator of the health of the nation
W.Morris makes no difference between makers and thrive strives for equality and good design. However, because of his method of hand printing, his products only made it possible for the wealthy to buy his service
They based their work on a set of principle that where largely influenced by the social circumstances and victorian society and culture. this group became a force that will change the way people view and value the decorative art and its creators.
They create a new design trend: architecture, interior design, gardening, fashion
Moriss’s design is iconic and shape the art and craft movement as we perceived it today
William Morris’s Chrysanthemum pattern (1877). Original from The Smithsonian Institution. Digitally enhanced by rawpixel.William Morris’s Windrush (1917–25). Original public domain image from The Art Institute Chicago. Digitally enhanced by rawpixel.
W.M relation to time is showing within his work:
The past is not dead. It is living in us and will be alive in the future which we are now helping to make.
W.M has no affinity with purely abstract pattern. He reject simple replication he seek a sens of hidden depth
Blue marigold illustration wall art print and poster design remix from original artwork by William Morris.William Morris’s Wild Tulip (1884) famous artwork. Original from The Birmingham Museum. Digitally enhanced by rawpixel.
principle of art & craft movement
Principle 1
Design should be created in context to the environment not for its own existence or for admiration only. he creates pattern with an intention and purpose (create pattern that will work well on specific product)
INTENTION AND PURPOSE ARE PARAMOUNT !
Principle 2
Design should first be created out of function after that is achieved ornament and decor an be added in Morris work there was never redondance or unnecessary details
START WITH THE FUNCTION !
Principle 3
Design should be true to purpose and its material, honest in how it is created. It shouldn’t imitate or look like something.
This is why the art & craft style was created in a two dimensional matter with simplified and stylised animal, plants motifs.
it should not try to look real but only to borrow the beauty of the nature and use it as a manner that complement the interior
stylise the motif to suits the suppose !
Principle 4
Use nature as your source of inspiration.
There are no abstract and non figurative design
All art & craft designer are inspired by nature with motifs of: – Foliage – Flowers – Animals – Fruits
Not to try to depict nature realistically but in a stylised way !
Principle 5
The designer should be involve in the whole process: from design to making… this mean learning and practicing every craft behind his product (design drawing, embroidery, waving, dying, printing…)
GET GOOD AT THE CRAFT AND DESIGN !
Try different technics and medias for creating pattern !
Chrysanthemum flower pattern ornament background
William Morris and J.H Dearl’s work (image in public domain)
William Morris and J.H Dearl’s work (images in public domain)
William Morris and J.H Dearl’s work images in public domain)
William Morris’s (1834-1896) famous Jasmine pattern artwork. Original from The Birmingham Museum. Digitally enhanced by rawpixel.
(images in public domain)
Blue pattern wallpaper, William Morris marigold desktop backgroundWilliam Morris’s Watercolour, woven fabric design: Anemone (1876) famous artwork. Original from The Birmingham Museum. Digitally enhanced by rawpixel.William Morris’ Windrush iPhone wallpaper, green botanical pattern background, remixed by rawpixel
(images in public domain)
William Morris & co seamless patterns – images in public domain
William Morris’s Cray (1884–1917). Original public domain image from The Art Institute Chicago. Digitally enhanced by rawpixel.
William Morris Hunt – Wallace Black,1896
Portrait of Jane Morris (Mrs. William Morris) by John Robert Parsons
More:
Original public domain image from Getty MuseumPortrait of Jane Morris (Mrs. William Morris) by John Robert Parsons
More:
Original public domain image from Getty Museum
Portrait of Jane Morris (Mrs. William Morris) by John Robert Parsons
Portrait of Jane Morris (Mrs. William Morris) by John Robert Parsons