Week 4

Today in class, we started studying  Art Deco (1925- 1940).

The term “art deco” was derived from the “Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industrial Modernes” which was held in Paris in 1925.

Art Deco visual motifs include geometric shapes, curves, Egyptian zigzags, sunbursts, lightning bolts, airbrushed ray bands, motion lines, aerodynamic and streamlined forms. Some examples are:

The second half of the class we split into two groups, and played a game, based on the visual motifs we see in every image. It became pretty competitive, but a great learning style.

David Carson Research- The Digital Age

I have been researching for the last week on the assessment we are doing, and I have chosen to do David Carson (The Digital Age). One look at his designs, and I couldn’t turn back. I really love them, and it has been great exploring some of his work!

A few of my favourites I have discovered so far are as follows:

 

David Carson is an American Graphic Designer, born September 8, 1952. He is best known for his innovative magazine design and use of experimental typography. David Carson has been one of the greatest influences on modern graphic design in the last 25 years. He took both photography and type, manipulated and twisted them together.

He was the first to mix and match funky off-beat type faces with traditional ones in order to add texture and diversity into his work. His typographic experimentations have been admired by recent generations for their rebellious messiness that closely imitated the social scene of the 1990s.

Here are a few other designs of his I have collected:

Journal- Week 3

This week, the class discussed and looked through the Art Nouveau, Sixties’ Psychedelia, and Early Modernism.

Art Nouveau 1890-1910

Art Nouveau is a direct descendent of the Arts and Crafts Movement. It was the first style of commercial art used consistently to enhance the beauty of industrial products. Art Nouveau uses visuals that are organic plant-like and energetic. Like the Arts and Crafts Movement, Art Nouveau was also a rebellion against the Victorian sensibilities.

Art Nouveau influenced the style of architects such as Victor Horta, who strived for harmony between form, material and colour.

 

This following picture is of a hotel landing, the dominant Art Nouveau visuals are clearly visible with the organic plant-like line and vine tendrils.

 I like this photo, because it is so basic but so complex at the same time, and it is beautiful and homely.

The look of Art Nouveau was inspired by Asian art which arrived in Europe as the result of increased trade between Europe and Asia.

There is obvious plant-like decorative motifs, which make this vase distinctively Art Nouveau.

My like for this design of vase, is the elegance, and the different shades of colours.

Another source of inspiration for Art Nouveau came from painters like Vincent Van Gogh and his swirling forms.

 

We also watched a trailer the for the cartoon movie ‘The Illusionist’ which was very much set in Art Nouveau. It was great, and hope to watch it some day soon.

Sixties’ Psychedelia 1960- 1975

Psychedelia was born within the hippie subculture of the Haight-Ashbury district in San Francisco.

The name “Psychedelic” related directly to psychedelic drugs that were popular with the youth culture of the time, and especially at rock concerts. Poster artists tried to capture the feeling of “tripping out”. For example:

Curvilinear shapes were in as well as bright colours. I really like this, this type of design for chairs, have been back in and working for modern homes.

This image is an underground comic with its wild imagery which also served as inspiration. This was done by R Crumb. Crumb was one of the most influential comic book artists of the 1960s. His work is often bizarre and perverse, which helped his popularity among the youth.

Early Modernism 1910-1935

Outside of the art world, the terms “modern” and “contemporary” are used virtually interchangeably. The early modernism covers a multitude of styles, constructivism, Bauhaus, Dada, De Stijl, Expressionism, Futurism, Heroic Realism, the New Typography, Plakatstil, Surrealism, and Vorticism.

The following picture is an early modern structure which can be described as “experimental”, because it looked nothing like traditional architecture of the time.

Influenced by ancient Iberian and African art, Picasso went through a cubist period in the early 1900s.

Cubist art had a major effect on graphic design, including the expressionist posters of Germany. Expressionists were concerned with the human condition and felt deep empathy for the poor and social outcasts.

  

The following image is done by Lissitzky, the most interested in spacial composition, contrasts between elements, relationship of forms to the negative space, and asymmetrical balance. He used sans-serif type and bold rules with red and black ink.

I am really quite interested in this piece, because i like space and black and red ink. It is mysterious in a way, and it definitely caught my attention.

Journal- Week 2

 Week 2

This week we spoke about Graphic Arts Techniques, The Victorian Age, and the Arts and Crafts Movement.

It is interesting to see what people did many years ago, and what methods they used.

- Before printing was used, books were copied by hand

Some techniques were carving into wood, to make print. To make a book you would have to skin 300 sheep.

-          Up until 1860, paper was made out of grass

-          The definition of ‘Noise’ is many, crowded

-          Crosshatching gives fine detail

This example is a woodblock print carved by a chisel and hammer.

The Victorian Age- 1840-1900

I found interest in this era, because all designs are very elegant, and nice. The Victorian Age has a very strong home feeling.

-          It was an era of strong moral and religious beliefs.

-          The Eiffel tower is an example of architecture in the Victorian Age in 1889

 - Coca-Cola’s logo has never changed. It is worth more than anything they own.

The Victorian Age Design consisted of:

-          Symmetry

-          Cloth banners

-          Typography on a curve

-          Realistic images

-          Architecture

-          Sentimental imagery

This image of a poster shows the symmetry used in the age, and realistic images.

This image uses symmetry, cloth banners, typography on a curve.

 

The Victorian Age was an era where no one showed too much of their bodies, and clothing was very much covering all of their bodies.

 

Here is an example of what a Victorian drawing room looks like:

 

The Arts & Crafts Movement

-The Arts & Crafts was a reaction against the poor aesthetic quality of the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain.

- It is a socialist reform movement which embraced artists, architects, designers, writers and craft workers of all types.

- In retrospect, the arts and crafts movement is recognised as the bridge between traditional Victorian values and the modern movement.

William Morris is the leader of the movement, the one who wrote the rules.

 

The movement was all about unity, colours and print all going together.

This following picture shows the arts and craft movements ideal design.

 

And this image is an example of early Venician printing which Morris admired. Italian printers used borders, headbands and decorative initials. Wood and metal engravers were used as grander effects.

Week 1

Week 1, I was absent from the lesson due to being in Africa, but I have read the notes on Ruth's blog! Which includes notes on papermaking and lithography