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DECORATIVE ART – THE BIRTH OF THE ART NOUVEAU MOVEMENT  Above, is an example of Decorative Art from the Art Nouveau period as seen in the 1907 publication "Plant Forms and Design" The natural beauty
of plants has inspired poets and artists for centuries, and it is not
difficult
to see why if you visit any botanical garden on a bright spring day.
The
fascinating shapes that create the outline of a plant make for an
amazing muse
for the more creative sections of our minds. The pioneers who created
the Art
Nouveau movement felt the same way. Art Nouveau is a type of design, seen most often in traditional art forms and architecture, that is primarily characterized by the creative use of curved lines. Art Nouveau designs emulate plants in that they seem to grow on the medium used. Art Nouveau was first seen in the 1880s as a part of the Decorative Art phase, but the movement truly came to be recognized as a forceful factor in the art world from 1892 to 1902. In the United States, Art Nouveau merged with the Arts and Crafts movement, which peaked from 1910 to 1925. While interest in the movement waned after the 1920s, the graphic design movement of the 1980s created a whole new league of Art Nouveau fans. The 1907 publication “Plant Form and Design” captures the essence of this decorative art period. This fascinating instructional text teaches students, both past and present, the fundamental principles needed to create a beautiful piece that mimics the traditional Art Nouveau style, no matter what your medium. From the fascinating base sketches in the text to the important and ever current guidance, this text is a must read for Art Nouveau crafters. Please visit our Art Form
Instruction page for a complimentary copy of the first
chapter of this |