Amor Fenn

“ The average individual is guided as a rule in colour selection by vogue or fashion, though it is the polite custom to concede that the average woman is naturally endowed with taste. This is delicate ground, but the awful and impossible associations evident at times in feminine costume certainly do not justify the courtesy. There are superstitions in colour selection evidently the result of tradition, such, for instance, as red and yellow being suitable for a sallow complexion. The actual effect of these colours being to excite the complementaries, is hardly favourable to the misguided wearer. ”

“ It has already been suggested that Design is not merely a question of idea and draughtsmanship, but is also dependent upon materialistic conditions, which, in practical work, must be understood and properly considered.
Whether the intended design be for some form of flat pattern, such as weaving, etc., or for any particular craft expression, it is essential that the limitations of the process and material involved be clearly kept in view, and that suitable elements for expression be chosen. ”

“ Too much importance is attached to what is believed to be inspiration, but obviously if inspired, design is rather in the nature of an accident than of the deliberate intention it should be and cannot be credited to the individual exponent. ”

“ Sometimes interest may be added by introducing animal forms in keeping with the general environment.
Interest in design depends on the massing and emphasis of detail, because, if a plain or uniform surface be completely covered with detail equally distributed, with no regard to mass or emphasis of parts, it is obvious that the result will again be uniform—the only difference being that a certain texture is imparted to the surface, and this, though not undesirable in a wallpaper, is not consonant with the nature of a panel. ”

“ A basement is really a continuous pedestal on which an order rests. It necessarily varies in height according to conditions, thus if its purpose is merely to raise the ground floor it may be no more than three to six feet high, but if it is required to form a storey, it should not exceed the height of the order employed or be less than one half.
The joints of the work in basements are generally{208} accentuated by some form of rustication, and the heights of the horizontal courses should not be less than half a diameter of the column of the order above. ”

“ In any attempt to review the past, it is difficult to visualise the actual life at the back of the pageantry, with which we are naturally prone to be obsessed, in history as written; but the exhibits of the various domestic appliances of the Roman period at the British Museum are of considerable interest, and a scrutiny of these cannot fail to bring the individual to a closer understanding of the times and people. ”

“ It is usual to speak of Greek, Roman, Gothic, etc., of such a century; in the case of the Renaissance, it is customary to particularise the variants, as Italian, French, English, etc., also with the period or century.
The development of style, intimately involved as it{17} is in the social, religious and political history of nations, must ever be powerful in its interest and far-reaching in its appeal.
The first idea in the mind of man is undoubtedly that of utility, but in succeeding stages of culture there comes a natural craving for something more than this. ”

“ Another superstition is that a design is a drawing, and it only requires a facility in this form of expression to produce a design. This is a fallacy, as though many designs are for convenience expressed through this medium, any such drawing must be made with a knowledge of the technical details of the final method of production, to be a practical design. ”

“ Popular taste as a factor that has to be considered has already been suggested, but it is evident that the average member of the public has little knowledge of Art, and still less of design.
Art and Existence
That Art is necessary to existence may be questioned, as life would be possible—if not very interesting—if regulated only by considerations of utility. In a less cultivated state we are satisfied with the gratification of merely physical wants; so in a more cultivated state Art becomes one of the mind’s necessities. ”

“ In painting the artist may employ the full resources of his palette and be as realistic in his{255} effect as is in his power, but if the purpose be mural decoration restraint is at once imposed.
Undesirable Realism
Under certain conditions realism would be out of place, and any attempt at illusion would fail to convince. The one time fashion of painting ceilings with sprawling deities of either sex, which cannot be seen without a painful crick in the neck, or worse still to suggest sky with floating amorini, occasionally framed by marble balustrading in wonderful perspective is deplorable. ”

“ In the treatment of standards it is not so necessary to emphasise the element of support, and the diameter or lateral dimensions can vary to a greater degree. Whether the standards are fixtures or movable, as in interior fittings, there must be a base that will not only be adequate but will convey the idea of stability. In the case of portable standards the tripod form of base is possibly the most suitable, but when{247} the standard is small the base can be circular, square or polygonal. The commonest form is a shaft, which is frequently tapered. ”

“ Heraldry, which probably had its origin in Totemism, was practised chiefly for purposes of identification, and was essential in the period of complete armour, which rendered recognition in the ordinary way difficult.
Originally expressed on shields, surcoats and banners, it was employed later on tombs, and became a feature in decorative work. Indeed the display of heraldic devices on gates and entrances, and in chimney-pieces, is quite justified as indicative of ownership. Such details were eventually introduced into ornament for the sake of mass effect and variety. ”

“ The interest of the average individual in art is generally that of subject and sentiment. This is probably a more natural and logical attitude than that of the artist, to whom—as a craftsman—the interest is often merely that of technique. ”

“ The State recognition of Christianity had a great influence on art in that there was a return to symbolism. Various pagan elements associated with the earlier decoration that were unsuitable to the feeling of the time were eliminated. Eastern influence is evident, in not only the architecture but in the treatment which is known as Byzantine, of the foliage, which resembles that of the archaic Greek, the leaves being more stiffly lobed, and severely channelled with V-shaped grooves, in place of the subtle modelling of those of the Roman period. ”

“ The meeting angles or corners of borders invariably require special treatment, and in those positions the detail should be compact and stronger in appearance than the general pattern. The simplest expedient is some form of patera or rosette, but, whatever the detail, it should always be in strong contrast to that of the run of the border. The only forms that can be continuous without any marked change in the angles, are the undulating stem, the wave, and its square form the key or labyrinth; but even with these the proportion of width to height at times needs modification. ”

“ Realism, though desirable in portraiture, either of individuals, places or events, is not necessarily of the greatest interest except to those concerned. In mural decoration realism should give place to convention, and the whole considered as a design with regard to balance of form and colour, and recognition of the surface to which the decoration is applied. ”

“ Possibly the greatest offender in this respect was the French designer of the Rococo period, whose woodwork design is regardless of constructive detail, and it is to the everlasting credit of the workmen that they overcame the difficulties thrown in their way, and that so much of this work is still in existence.
Ethical Side of Art
Art is also reflective of the ethics and morals of the time; compare, for instance, the robust character of Gothic work with the lack of meaning and insincerity of the later Renaissance, degenerating into the license of the Rococo. ”

“ Design is therefore inseparable from consideration of material and process, with which the designer must be acquainted; without this technical knowledge it is{3} impossible to take full advantage of the method of production either in the direction of economy or effect. ”

“ In the past, as is evident in the simplest utensils, beauty was universally appreciated, but at the present time the large majority are apathetic to æsthetic environment; regarding art vaguely as the production and display of pictures and sculpture.
The present shows a considerable advance on the deplorable taste of the mid-Victorian period, but we have still far to go. The incongruity of domestic decoration and furniture which, unhappily, is too general, is the result of individual selection which is invariably uneducated. ”

“ It is customary, when any of the orders of Architecture are employed, to adopt a system of proportions which has been evolved from the best traditions of the past, and is generally accepted as the most satisfactory.
Naturally these proportions are subject to modification to suit special conditions or personal treatment. According to the academic method, the diameter of the column is divided into two parts, which are called Modules, and each of these is again subdivided into thirty divisions called parts. This gives a scale by means of which all dimensions of height and projection are obtained. ”

“ For instance, in silhouette, profile renderings only are intelligible, and in delicate bas-relief modelling any foreshortening should be avoided if confusing to the effect.
In direct personal work, such as drawing or painting, when craft conditions other than that of the medium employed are not involved, convention is purely a matter of discretion and consideration of the nature and object of the work; but it is essential in design when the material and method of production have to be considered. ”

“ Furniture, too, must be considered, reds being an unsuitable setting for oak as a rule, while mahogany is best associated with delicate greens and greys.
It is a reasonable assumption that the training of the student should result in greater discrimination, and when the exercise consists of representing, it is a matter of careful approximation of colours and values. In original design the harmonious effect depends on the individual, who, in early attempts in colour, jumps at it, being unconscious of any guiding principle. ”

“ AUTHOR’S PREFACE IT may be urged with some reasonable basis of truth that much of the modern art work fails to attain the level of that of the past. It must be conceded, however, that demand and appreciation is more general and widely diffused. As social conditions have developed, interest in environment has been stimulated. Improved processes resulting in more economic production have rendered possible an indulgence by those of moderate means, attainable only at earlier periods by the wealthier class. ”

“ The inhabitants of the provinces thus abandoned and thrown on their own resources, were immediately menaced by invasions, which had been hitherto kept in check by the armies of occupation, and for some protracted period ensued a condition of unrest and conflict, under which the arts naturally suffered. Eventually, from the chaos emerged a native manner of building, which, though rude and coarse in execution, was based on the Roman tradition. ”

“ No useful purpose is served, and much valuable time is wasted, in attempts to accomplish freehand, forms that may be perfectly achieved by proper implements. Familiarity with the use of these will be found of great assistance in all design in which geometric construction, apparent or not, plays so large a part.
Of this the average beginner has little conception, and though Geometry has been a subject of their early training, they seldom have any clear idea as to its employment in design. ”

“ Many of the legends of the Middle Ages associated with Architecture are reminiscent of the early customs of sacrifice in the oft-repeated traditions of demoniacal aid. The story generally deals with some difficult problem in design or construction for the solution of which the architect or builder enters into the usual compact with the evil one, the terms being that the latter party to the contract shall take possession of the first living being that enters into or crosses the structure. ”

“ An intelligent study of the elements and basis of pattern and of traditional styles should result in the ability to produce work on safe traditional lines that will be in harmony with environment. Such work it may be claimed would only attain the level of mediocrity; how much farther the student will go depends largely upon application and natural faculty.
Natural faculty is fairly common, while genius is rare and can look after itself. The teacher is concerned with the rank and file, and the training and development of the natural faculty should be the aim. ”

“ As the Pilaster is used structurally in order to give support, so its treatment in interior decoration must conform to architectural requirements, and the decoration should be symmetrical on a central axis and vertical in direction.
When flutes are employed to decorate the pilasters, they should be unequal in number—seven being a favourite number. The flutes may be further decorated by cabling, though this should extend to only one-third of the height. The cabling can be elaborated into a series of husks which may arise from the base or be pendant from the top of the pilaster. ”

“ At times, however, the women-folk take the initiative, and two of the greatest inflictions that men suffer are the selection of their ties and cigars by one of the opposite sex.
In domestic environment the selection is invariably imitative or guided by fashion, and if the prevailing vogue prescribes brown paper as a lining for walls, it is probably adopted. But the choice, however it may be influenced, is made possibly without thought of the furniture and upholstery that is associated. ”

“ In the last few years it has been recognised that colour may be employed beneficially in curative treatment, but the normal healthy individual is often indifferent to environment other than that of material gratification.
When any artistic work creates pleasurable emotion, it is purely a matter of cause and effect. To design successfully involves some understanding of the causes or factors which constitute the appeal. ”

“ INTRODUCTORY IT is an article of faith that to design entails the possession of the creative faculty, which may be taken for granted with the proviso, that the creative faculty is concerned rather with the association of elements common to all than with invention pure and simple.
Human Limitations
To be more explicit, the human imagination is limited to personal or acquired experience. At no period has any form been created that is not traceable to some process of production, or natural suggestion ”

“ It also implies that he must be well versed in the various styles or historic tradition, so that his work, if desirable, may be in harmony with existing environment; but in these circumstances it is quite possible to produce work that is individual and distinctive.
Designers, craftsmen and manufacturers are all dependent upon public demand, which must be taken into account, and their business is as far as possible to raise the general standard of taste, by producing of their best. Any attempt on their part to insist on what shall or shall not be done would undoubtedly result in failure. ”

“ Dull slavish reproduction is not only without interest, but displays lack of inventiveness. It is possible in good hands to utilise the past tradition so as to appeal to modern appreciation.
Consistency in Growth
However arbitrary traditional ornament may appear, there is consistency in the best examples, which display in many details some general observance of the principle of natural growth. There may be no attempt to exploit any known type, the creation being purely artificial; still the association of stem, leaves and flowers is suggestive of natural growth. ”