Print making

Print making is the process of making artworks by printing, normally on paper. print making covers only the process of creating prints that has originality, other than just being a photographic reproduction of a painting. 

Except in the case of monotyping, the process is capable of producing multiples of same piece, which is called a print , the prints are produced but are not considered as a copy but are known to be a original. 

Prints are created by transferring ink from a matrix or through a prepared screen to a sheet of paper or other material such as a fabric. common types of matrices include: metal plates, usually cooper or zinc, or polymer plates for engraving or etching, stone, aluminium, or polymer for lithography blocks of wood for woodcuts and wood engravings and also linoleum for Lino cuts. 

A matrix is a mold for casting a letter known as a sort used in letterpress printing. however printmaking the matrix is used with ink to hold the image that makes up the print wheather a plate in etching and engraving or a woodblock in woodcut.   

Artists like Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol have both used a printing technique. 

Victor Horta

Victor Horta , was a Belgium architect and designer, he was born 1861 and passed away 1947, he was the one of the leading architect and designers of the Art Nouveau movement his style inspired a variety of modern artists. 

 

By observing Horta's work I can see a clear understanding of the Art Nouveau style. Horta's use of line and texture is very simplistic and elegant this symbolises a plant in its natural form. From the patterns on the wall and floor to the swirling staircase Horta has presented art nouveau beautifully in my opinion. 

Art Nouveau Movement

Art Nouveau:

was an innovative international style of modern art that became popular around the 1890s to the First World War...Art Nouveau rooted in the industrial revolution and the arts and crafts movement but was also influenced by japonism and Celtic designs.

 

Typically Nouveau used intricate curvilinear patterns of sinuous asymmetrical lines, this was often based on plant-forms which came from Celtic art; Floral and other plant-inspired motifs are very popular Art Nouveau designs. 

ART NOUVEAU-ARCHITECTURE 

Art Nouveau buildings have many of these features: 

- Asymmetrical Shapes 

- Extensive use of arches and curved forms 

- Curved Glass

- Curving, plant-like embellishments

- Mosaics 

- Stained glass 

- Japanese motifs 

ART NOUVEAU- FASHION

Art Nouveau fashion provides a fascinating introduction to the style, defining it and placing it in design history by focusing on a number of important designers- Worth, Lucile, Paquin, Poiret. 

Evening garments were the most lavishly attuned to art nouveau, couturiers swathed their evening wear with a profusion of silk brocade, appliqué, embroidery and lace. From neckline to hem, the designers played art nouveau swirls around the voluptuousness of the fashionable figure, which itself was curvaceously shapes by the "S" -bend corsets. 

ART NOUVEAU-GRAPHIC DESIGN

Alfons Maria Mucha :

Is maybe the most famous representative of the art nouveau style. He was a painter, illustrator, graphic designer and poster artist. Mucha worked in Paris and is Widely known as the graphic designer who took art nouveau to its ultimate visual expression. 

In the 1890s, he created designs- usually featuring beautiful young women whose hair and clothing swirl in rhythmic patterns that achieved an idealised prefection. he organised into tight compositions lavish decorative elements inspired by Byzantine and Islamic design , stylised lettering and sinuous female forms. 

ART NOUVEAU- FURNITURE 

Furniture created in the Art Nouveau style was prominent from the late 19th century to the advent of the First World War.

Art Nouveau furniture was usually expensive with a fine finish that was usually polished or varnished. Continental designs were usually very complex, with curving shapes that were expensive to make. it by no means entirely replaced other styles of furniture, which continued to be popular. 

Charles Rennis Mackintosh furniture was relatively geometrical, marked by dimensions and right-angles. Continental designs were much more alaborate , often using curved shapes both in the basic shapes of the piece , apples in decorative motifs. 

Art Deco Movement

Art Deco:

was an influential visiual arts design style that first appeared in France after the First World War. Deco began to flourish internationally in the 1920s.The style of Art Deco is very distinctive it combines traditional crafts motifs with machine age imagery and materials it is also characterised by rich colours, bold geometric shapes and lavish ornamentation.

ART DECO- ARCHITECTURE 

Art Deco not only influenced the architecture of most American cities but had an impact on the fashion, art, and furniture too. Art Deco was essential to Americans they embraced it as a refreshing change from the eclectic and revivalist sensibilities that preceded it. A lot of buildings was embellished with hard-edged, low relief designs such as geometric shapes, including chevrons and ziggurats and also floral and sunrise patterns. 

ART DECO- FASHION

It all started in the 1920's when women were given the freedom to work for the first time to fill employment void created when men went off to war. 

During the 1920's women started rebelling against tradition they no longer wanted to be incolved with Victorian values and wanted to do everything to distance themselves from the feminine image. Alternatively, Art Deco fashion relied heavily on beautifully textured richly dyed fabrics that lent depth to the simple angular lines of the dresses. These dresses relied more upon simple shapes combined with the bold colours and textures to the depth beauty and overall effect of the fashion scene. 

ART DECO- FURNITURE

Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann, Furniture and interior designer and other furniture designers specialised in furniture made of rich, exotic woods, desingers would also finaih off most of their furnitures with a high-gloss lacquer this gave furniture a very rich and sleek look, using Lacquer was known to be a typical art deco style. 

However, leather furniture was also very popular in the 20's it was mainly used for arm chairs and sofas , the typical leather colour was black, brown and tan , but some leathers was also dyed in bold Art Deco colours such as cherry red and tangerine orange, these colours reflected on the overall cheerful spirit of the Art Deco times. 

ART DECO- GRAPHIC DESIGN

Influential designer: A.M. Cassandre commercial poster artist, and typeface designer was the most influential designer of the Art Deco stages. Cassandre's advertisements helped define the Art Deco look. His first poster design was for "The woodcutter" department store was 12 feet wide, his airbrushed ray bans motif became a major influence on the look of Art Deco graphics

When desinging Cassandre often reduced his subjects to silhouettes and geometric symbols and shapes.