Thursday 26 June 2014

Decades of Inspiration

I recently found a really great bargain book on Art Deco fashion which got me wondering about which design decades I am really inspired by.  In the design world certain looks often creep in and out of vogue but I tend to just go with what really speaks to me. I've written before about my love of mid-century pattern and I find that this influence creeps into a lot of my work, but for this post I wanted to explore other eras that spark my creativity.

Art Deco is a style that was influential from the 1920s through to the 1930s. It gained inspiration from a range of different sources with designers seeking to embrace a new modern style that coincided with developments in travel (cars, aeroplanes), exploration and archaeology, theatre, dance, sport and avant-garde art. Patterns used stylised motifs and strong geometric shapes and lines. These are some fave images that really sum up Art Deco for me. I love the bright pops of colour alongside the bold lines.


One of my favourite artists worked during this time and was hugely influential in surface pattern. I love the work of Sonia Delaunay, an artist who used her designs on an eclectic range of items. I came across her when I was at university and found her really inspiring. She applied the same techniques as her painting to creating textiles and sought to express the dynamism of the age through her work. I love how she conveys freedom of movement in her pieces and her use of colour is fantastic. I feel these are just as fresh now as they were in the 20s and 30s.

 I hope you find these snippets of Art Deco interesting and it inspires you to find out more about Sonia Delaunay- you will not be disappointed! Which decades inspire you? I'd love to know!