Notes on Design – Walter Crane

Line & Form by Walter Crane

 

Curves 1.Q and 2.A

The curve (1. Q) is a proposition or question. It is answered or balanced by the corresponding curve (2. A), and forms the basis for a scroll design.

Curves 1 and 2

The five radiating lines (1) are obviously incomplete by themselves, but if we add another [36]four, in reverse order, (2) we get a centred and symmetric motive of an anthemion character.

Wall-Paper Design

Take, however, a wall-paper. The problem is to construct a design pleasant to the eye in line, form, colour, and suggestion; which will be interesting in detail, and yet repeat upon a wall-surface without flaw, and without becoming wearisome. Moreover, one which will lend itself to being cut upon wood, if for block-printing, and which may be reproduced with a due regard to economy of means. The designer may have a square of twenty-one inches in which to make his design.

Diagram Showing The Use Of A Geometric Basis In Designing Repeating Pattern.

Use Of Controlling Boundaries In Designing SpraysMethod Of Testing A Repeating Pattern.The Principle Of Counterbalance In Different Systems Of Design.Border Units And Border Motive.Recurring Line And Form In Border Motives.Brush Forms.Direct Brush Expression Of Animal Form.Japanese Drawing Of A Bird. From “;The Hundred Birds Of Bari.”;

zUse of Inclosing Boundaries in Designing Animal Forms in Decorative Pattern.Decorative Spacing of Figures Within Geometric Boundaries.Relation of Design to Boundary: Simple Linear Motives and Pattern Bases.Designs of Floral, Human, and Animal Forms, Governed by Shape of Inclosing Boundary.Byzantine (Mosaic) Treatment of Architectural Structural Features: Apse, S. Vitale Ravenna.Extension: Surface Pattern Motives Derived from Lines of Structure.Surface Extension: Repeating Patterns Built Upon (1) Square And (2) Circular Basis.Sketch Designs to Show Relation Between Frieze And Field in Wall-paper.Principles Of Structural And Ornamental Line In Natural Forms.General Principles Of Line And Form In The Branching And Foliage Masses Of Trees.Principles Of Structure In Foliage Masses.Roof-lines: Rothenburg.Formal Composition: Figure Designs Controlled By Geometric Boundaries.Formal Composition: Figure Designs Controlled By Geometric Boundaries.Informal Composition: Expression Of (1) Storm And (2) Calm In Landscape.Informal Composition: Expression Of Repose And Action.Decorative Relief: Treatment Of Mantling.Relief in Pattern Design by Means of Simple Linear Contrasts (1)Relief in Pattern Design by Means of Simple Linear Contrasts (2), (3)Relief by Adding Shading Lines to Outline.Relief of Form by Diagonal Shading.Different Method And Different Emphasis In Relieving Form By Shading Lines. (A, B, C).

 

Relief in Architectural Mouldings.Greek Relief. Eleusis. Egyptian Relief. Denderah.Sketches to Illustrate (1) The Graphic And (2) The Decorative Treatment of Draped Figures.Decorative Treatment of Birds.Dancing Figure with the Governing Lines of the Movement.Lines of Floral Growth and Structure: Lily and Rose.1 and 2, Mountain And Crag Sculpture: Coast Lines, Gulf Of Nauplia.Lines of Movement in Water: Shallow Stream Over Sand.Diagram to Show (1) How the Apparent Depth of a Space Is Increased by the Use of Vertical Lines, and (2) How the Apparent Width Is Increased by the Use of Horizontal Lines.(1) Contrasting Surfaces of Warp and Weft in Woven Silk Hanging; (2) Stencil Principle.(1) Stained Glass Treatment: Inclosure of Form and Colour by Lead Lines; (2) Sections.

 

 

Elementary Forms: Pyramid, Sphere, Cube, Hexagon, Cone.Use Of Elementary Forms in Architecture.Poppyheads.Apple Cut To Show Position Of Seeds.Filling of Square Space.Filling of Circular Space.1. Units of Simple Inlay Pattern; 2. Motive for Inlaid Pattern Built of the Same Units; 3. Treatment of Form as Pattern Units for Inlaid Work; 4. Pattern Motive for Inlaid WorkJapanese Diagonal Pattern.Treatment of Fruit and Leaf Forms: Corresponding CurvatureSome Analogies in Form.Tree Of Typical Pattern Forms, Units, and Systems.Sketches to Show Use of Counterbalance, Quantity, and Equivalents in Designing.Quantities and Counterchange of Border and Field in Carpet Motives.Recurrence and Contrast in Border Motives.

 

 

DIAGRAM TO SHOW THE THREE TYPICAL FORMS OF ARCHITECTURE:

I
LINTEL.
 II
ROUND ARCH.
 III
POINTED ARCH.
 ..    .    ..

ASSYRIAN ENAMELLED TILE.

The various forms of volute, or spiral, and guilloche ornament, so much used by the ancients—Assyrian, Egyptian, and Greek—may be compared, in their structure and arrangement of line, with the form taken by the withy, or cord twisted around the upright canes or staves of a wattled fence, as seen in horizontal section. The primitive wattled structure gives the plans of these patterns. It certainly appears to account for their origin in a remarkably complete way.52

GREEK ANTHEMION ORNAMENT.

WATTLED FENCE.

It is possible that another source which may have contributed to the evolution of the Greek spiral or volute was metal in the form of the thin beaten plates with which the primitive Greeks covered 53parts of their interior walls; but these were later times, and it is also possible that the primitive metal worker took his motive from the wattling too.

ANCIENT VOLUTE ORNAMENT.

PATTERNS FROM BRONZE SHIELDS CYPRUS.
GREEK VOLUTE OR MEANDER PATTERN.

CHANDELIER OF BRASS, GERMAN 17th CENTURY.

DETAILS OF CHANDELIER:

 

DRINKING VESSELS, ETC.

COMPARISON OF THE LINES OF A FEMALE FIGURE & THOSE OF AN AMPHORA.
CYLIX.
ANCIENT GREEK DRINKING VESSEL.
HYDRIA ANCIENT GREEK WATER VESSEL.
MODE OF CARRYING THE HYDRIA PARTHENON FRIEZE.
AMPHORA APPROACHING PITCHER FORM.
PITCHER.
ENGLISH BROWN JUG.
GERMAN BEER MUGS.
GLASS PITCHER.
BOTTLES.
DRINKING GLASSES.
ROMANO BRITISH THUMBER.
DISTILLERS COPPER FILLER.
CAN
ROMAN PEASANT WOMAN WITH COPPER WATER VESSEL.
BUCKET.
BASIN.
WATERING CAN.

 

I. TYPICAL BORDER SYSTEMS.

2. PERSISTENT PATTERN PLANS, RECTANGULAR BASIS.

WROUGHT-IRON GATES, ST. LAWRENCE, NUREMBERG. 

CEILING PAPER. DESIGNED BY WALTER CRANE.

PATTERN PLANS & MOTIVES CONTROLLED BY CONDITIONS OF POSITION AND PURPOSE.

FLOOR MOTIVE. SKETCH DESIGN FOR INLAID WOOD, SOUTH LONDON FINE ART GALLERY. DESIGNED BY Walter Crane

FROM “THE GLITTERING PLAIN,” KELMSCOTT PRESS. DESIGNED BY WILLIAM MORRIS AND WALTER CRANE

.

FROM SPENSER’S “FAERIE QUEENE.” DESIGNED BY WALTER CRANE.  .

  EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS. TOMB OF BENI HASAN. NINETEENTH DYNASTY.

EGYPTIAN WALL-PAINTING (BRITISH MUSEUM).

ASSYRIAN TREE OF LIFE.

ASSYRIAN BAS-RELIEF. PAVEMENT SLAB (BRITISH MUSEUM).

ASSUR BENI PAL. ASSYRIAN LION FROM BRITISH MUSEUM.

ASSUR BENI PAL. ASSYRIAN LION FROM BRITISH MUSEUM.

CELTIC ORNAMENT FROM A CROSS AT CAMPBELTOWN, ARGYLLSHIRE.   

ARABIAN FOURTEENTH CENTURY CARVED AND INLAID PULPIT, CAIRO (SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM. DRAWN BY W. CLEOBURY).

     

ARABIAN FOURTEENTH CENTURY CARVED AND INLAID PULPIT, CAIRO (SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM. DRAWN BY W. CLEOBURY).

 

HINDU SYMBOL OF THE UNIVERSE.

Egyptian Treatment of Birds (from painted Mummy Cases, British Museum). 

JAPANESE GRAPHIC ART. FROM “THE HUNDRED BIRDS OF BARI.”

JAPANESE GRAPHIC ART. FROM “THE HUNDRED BIRDS OF BARI.”  .

 

Coast and Mountain Lines, Gulf of NaupliafigurefigurefigurefigureLines of Characterization in the Form and Feature of Flowers: Lily and Poppy.Silhouette of Beech Leaves and Line Rendering of the Same.Line Arrangement In Ribbed Sea SandLines of Different Textures, Structures, and Surfaces.Expression Of Emotion: Lines Of Exaltation And Rejoicing In Unison. The Morning Stars, After William Blake. (From The Book Of Job.)figureCurvilinear And Rectangular Scales Of Direction.Modern Picture-writing According To Nursery TraditionOlive Branch From NatureOlive Branch Simplified In Decorative Treatment.

 

 

 


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