William Morris and J.H Dearl’s work

We dont hear much about him but he is actually the designer behind most of the patterns created by Morris & co ( still mistakenly) he started to work for W. Morris in 1876. First as shop assistant then designer of tapestries with W.M then created his own patterns hightly influenced by W.Morris ‘s style)

William Morris

The 19th century’s most celebrated designer

A key figure in the Arts & Crafts Movement

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

William Morris & co / the firm

Morris Marshall Faulkner &co

John henry dearl

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Charles Faulkner

Richard Watson Dixon

Edward Burne-Jones

William Fulford

Cormell Price

May Morris ( daughter )

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.

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.

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 !