Arts and Crafts Movement

So before we get into this movement, we need to know what 'Arts and Crafts" are.So these are art activities done through use of your own hands for example for example wood carving, knitting, clay modelling among others.

So the Arts and crafts movement is a movement that started in Europe (Britain) approximately 1880 and later on spread to America. It was all about bringing back hand craftsmanship because industries had taken over their jobs. So in 1860s and 70s, artists begun to apply and create new different styles in arts hence forming the "Arts and Crafts movement" (Victoria and Albert Museum,2016).

In this movement, John Ruskin and William Morris  were the most influential people in making it well known to the world.

John Ruskin

Designhistory.org, How the Industrial Revolution Spawned the Arts and Crafts Movement 2011

http://www.designhistory.org/Arts_Crafts_pages/IndustrialRevolution.html

He was a poet, an author and an critic. He theorised that the Industrial Revolution Division was the cause of unhappiness to the poor because their industries had taken over their jobs (Designhistory.org,2011)

William Morris

Southgate Green Association, William Morris, 2017 

http://southgategreen.org.uk/christ-church/william-morris/

William Morris was born in 1834, Walthamstow. Him and his friends were influenced by John Ruskin (Southgate green Association, 2017). He later became the leader in the Arts and the Crafts movement. He applied the principles of art to the production of commercial art. He believed that one had to know the media he used hence spending time learning a variety of techniques (Arty factory, 2017).

Examples of his artwork

Arty factory, William Morris-The Arts & Crafts Movement.2017

http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/graphic_designers/william_morris.html

Above is the image of William Morris "Windrush" done from 1881-83. In this painting,he used the gothic style and as seen above he spent more time in detail which made painting awesome (Arty factory, 2017).

Contemporary art

F.A.M.E NYC Magazine, ARTS, CRAFTS AND MORE AT THE CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR NYC.

https://famenycmagazine.com/2011/11/19/arts-crafts-and-more-at-the-contemporary-art-fair-nyc/

The image above is one of the modern contemporary art pieces. As seen, the artist used a medieval style on the illustrated lady and mixed it with the modern style especially the blusih waves that go along the painting.

As a graphic designer, William Morris teaches me that the principles of art and design are essential and that we have to spend more time on our projects hence making them effective and appealing to the viewers. this is what makes us different from mechanical art the reason being that we are creative and can adjust from one medium to another.

Sources consulted

Victoria and Albert Museum,  The Arts & Crafts Movement. Online. Available at

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/the-arts-and-crafts-movement/

Accessed on 12/02/17

Southgate Green Association, William Morris. Online. Available at

http://southgategreen.org.uk/christ-church/william-morris/

Accessed on 12/02/17

Designhistory.org, How the Industrial Revolution Spawned the Arts and Crafts Movement 2011.
Online. Available at
http://www.designhistory.org/Arts_Crafts_pages/IndustrialRevolution.html
Accessed on 12/02/17

Arty factory, William Morris-The Arts & Crafts Movement. Online. Available at
http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/graphic_designers/william_morris.html
Accessed on 12/02/17

F.A.M.E NYC Magazine, ARTS, CRAFTS AND MORE AT THE CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR NYC.

Online. Available at

https://famenycmagazine.com/2011/11/19/arts-crafts-and-more-at-the-contemporary-art-fair-nyc/

Accessed on 12/02/17