Art Nouveau

During this era, people focused mostly on fine arts. During this time people believed that art should be appreciated for what it is. Art nouveau artists moved away from the classical art and were more daring, more explorative. They wanted and got better working space and worked on applying different kinds of art into one. [Ceramics Today].

 Art Nouveau fashion was distinguished by graceful lines elongated strokes ending in curlicue with flower and leaf motifs. Art nouveau also had a great influence on architecture at the time. Such art was displayed better in larger form, so the bigger your 'piece' the better it was. This era of art started of in France but quickly spread around the world. It was very popular until Art Deco and Modernism started gaining on it and finally replaced it.

I also took some points during my lesson which summed up characteristics of Art Nouveau:

• In Art Nouveau style was taken to a whole new level and everything went OTT (over the top).
• Nature imagery were heavily distorted and stylised with curves and shapes that resulted in a better understanding of the underlying geometric form. 
• Art Nouveau was all about the 'modern'. They wanted to scrap old way and come up with something new and innovative. Lots of their work had to with what nature set before them.
• Mackintosh had a way of drawing from nature. style of line precision, texture and pattern

http://www.parisperfect.com/blog/2011/03/art-nouveau-7th-arrondissement/
Art Nouveau building in Paris, France. 

What is Graphic Design?

At the end of the day, when one analysis everything that appears before them, we can see that Graphic design forms part of many things that lie before us; Be it a book cover, newspaper magazine or a simple billboard on the way to work. It is important that one does not confuse elements of graphic design with principles of design. Some of the most common elements used in Graphics are Lines, Colour, Art illustration and photography.

Colour can make an image more powerful and give of different messages to a person just by changing the colour in context. Changing a coloured picture to sepia for example is going to give off a complete different feel and interpretation to its viewer.

Type obviously having to do with typography in this case. Words and the way they are presented play a great role in Graphic Design. The type a graphic designer chooses is going to influence his work and help convey his message. One isn't going to use Comic Sans when presenting work to a client (unless the client's target audience is aged 3-9; Even that is just about acceptable), unless maybe the designer is using it intentionally in a sarcastic way.

The image you portray in your design leaves you with one question; Make it or break it? Out of one single picture, your audience can come up with a whole story. You want that story to be relevant to the message your are trying to get across to your audience so you must do it wisely. Don't just lash out your first idea and stick to it. Scrap it. Don't be afraid to be daring and try something new. At the end of the day that is what you are trying to do... catch the eye of an audience.

Graphic design started a long time ago with people drawing on the walls of caves. Many have remained in tact since they did not get into contact with much different types of weathering and sun. The paintings of Altamira are some of the first we come across. They are still found and well preserved until this date. A lot of their drawings consist of the bison, their source of food, clothing and main economic resource.

Bison in Altamira Cave, Spain. 

 Obviously, years ago one did not have the commodity of stationary but instead made use of natural resources such as ochre and zinc oxides. Wall paintings are also found in Tassili-n-Aller in Algeria - Paintings of revolution. These paintings illustrate and portray four different periods and include a ''horse'' and a ''camel''.

A rock drawing in Bhimbetka India

image of a horse in the Chauvet Cave

A History of Graphic Design: Chapter 1 - Birth of Graphic Design -- Egypt. 2013. A History of Graphic Design: Chapter 1 - Birth of Graphic Design -- Egypt. [ONLINE] Available at: <http://www.guity-novin.blogspot.com/2010/02/history-of-graphic-design-writing.html.> [Accessed 20 November 2013].