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William Morris
Victorian Artist
Week 1: Introduction
William Morris
William Morris (1834-1896) was among the
most creative artists Britain has ever produced. His accomplishments are extraordinary in their range and
depth.
He was a revolutionary interior designer
and book printer, a staunch socialist, a famous and prolific poet, a weaver, embroiderer, dyer, calligrapher, and architectural preservationist.
William Morris
William Morris was born in Walthamstow,
Essex, on 24 March 1834. The son of a wealthy businessman, he enjoyed a comfortable childhood before going to Marlborough and Exeter College,
Oxford.
William Morris
He originally intended to take holy orders,
but his reading of the social criticism of
Carlyle, Kingsley and Ruskin led him to
reconsider the Church and devote his life to
art.
John Ruskin
William Morris
After leaving Oxford, Morris was briefly
articled to G. E. Street, the Gothic Revival
architect, but he soon left, having determined to become a painter. His admiration for the Pre-Raphaelites led
him to be introduced to Dante Gabriel
Rossetti whose influence can be seen on
Morris's only surviving painting La Belle Iseult.
William Morris
William Morris 1834-1896 La Belle Iseult 1858Oil on canvas
This work is currently on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
William Morris
In the 1860s Morris decided that his creative
future lay in the field of the decorative arts.
His career as a designer began when he
decorated the Red House, Bexleyheath,
which had been built for him by Philip Webb.
William Morris
The success of this venture led to the formation of Morris, Marshall,
Faulkner & Co. in 1861.
The 'Firm' (later renamed Morris & Co) was
particularly well-known for its stained glass,
examples of which can be seen in churches
throughout Britain. Morris produced some
150 designs which are often characterised by
their delightful foliage patterns.
William Morris
William Morris
The non-ecclesiastical side of the business
was gradually was extended to include,
besides painted windows and mural decoration, furniture, metal, and glass wares, cloth and paper wall-hangings, embroideries, jewellery, printed
cottons, woven and knotted carpets, silk
damasks, and tapestries.
Examples of Design
Examples of Design
Examples of Wallpaper
Examples of Wallpaper
Your Task
Your task is to:
1) Study and replicate your favourite William Morris design. You can use pastel, crayon or paint for this task.
2) Visit the ICT Suite to print two William Morris images you like which can be cut and glued into your sketch book.
3) Write a brief explanation (at least 2 full sentences) about why you like the design and how the design could be used.
William Morris
Victorian Artist
Week 2: Inspiration
William Morris: Arts and Craft Movement
The Arts and Crafts Movement was an international design movement that originated in England and flourished between 1880 and 1910, with its
influence extending up to the 1930’s.
William Morris: Arts and Crafts Movement
The movement was instigated by the artist
and writer William Morris and inspired by
the writings of John Ruskin.
The Arts and Crafts Movement started as a
search for authentic design and decoration
and a reaction against the styles that had
developed out of machine-production.
William Morris: Arts and Crafts Movement
Arts and Crafts objects were simple in form,
without superfluous decoration, often showing the way they were put
together.
They followed the idea of "truth to material", preserving and emphasizing
thequalities of the materials used.
William Morris: Arts and Crafts Movement
They often had patterns inspired by British
flora and fauna and drew on the traditions
of the British countryside.
Several designer-makers set up workshops
in rural areas and revived old techniques.
William Morris: Arts and Crafts Movement
Supporters of the Art and Craft Movement
believed in the moral purpose of art.
It also proposed economic and social reform
and has been seen as essentially anti-industrial.
Your Task
We are going to have a walk to the Wildlife
Area to study and sketch the flora and fauna.
You will need to create your own William
Morris inspired design based on the sketches from your visit.
William Morris
Victorian Artist
Week 3: Skills and Design Brief
Video: How to print your own wrapping paper
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/how-to-print-your-own-wrapping-paper/7738.html
Video: How to print your own wrapping paper
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/how-to-print-your-own-wrapping-paper/7738.html
In this lesson we are going to focus on the
skill of printing.
We will then introduce the design brief for
the unit of work.
William Morris
Victorian Artist
Week 4: Design Process
William Morris
Victorian Artist
Week 5: Printing and Evaluation
William Morris
Victorian Artist
Week 6: Making Victorian Box
