With the rise of the industrial revolution came the ability to mass produce everything from furniture to home décor items. Although more readily available and less expensive, these items were, by definition, all exactly the same, and not always produced with the highest quality standards. The artists of the time, who cherished individual expression and beauty above all, revolted in the form of an artistic movement called Arts and Crafts.
The movement began in England and moved to America around the turn of the 20th century. Artists participating in this movement began to make high-quality jewelry, furniture, stained glass, ceramics, and other decorative items with an intentionally hand-made look; clean, natural lines; and a lack of excessive ornamentation. William Morris, a key player in the movement, is best known for the natural designs on the fabrics and wallpapers he produced, including his African Marigold textile design.
Throw back to the good old days of the Arts and Crafts Movement with our Impressed Tile Relief art project. Combining printmaking and ceramics, this lesson walks students through the steps of making a clay tile with the impression of a decorated pot and decorative frame. First, students will plan and carve a linoleum printing block they will press into their clay. Then they’ll press their clay tiles and design custom borders with simple clay shapes and textures. Additional stampings of their blocks will result in tiles with identical prints, but unique glaze colors, textures, and decorative frames—a series of obviously hand-made pieces in the style of the Arts and Crafts Movement.
Download a complete lesson plan for this project, including images, step-by-step directions, and a materials list, today!
For Grades 7-12.
