William Morris

William Morris was born on the 24th of March in 1834 at Elm House, Walthamstow. He was the founder of the Arts and Crafts Movement and was a member of the Pre-Raphaelites Movement. He used to be an artist, designer, printer, typographer, bookbinder, craftsman, poet, writer and champion of socialist ideals.  I personally am in love with his designs, for me they express warmth and also give you that sense of freedom because they are based on natural and floral patterns which are remarkably detailed and very inspirational. He is mostly known for his wallpaper and textiles designs. He named his designs after the natural forms that he used to find in the woods and was also inspired by medieval art, paintings from the Pre-Raphaelites and Japanese Prints.

These are some of his designs. 

The last pattern shown was the first attempt Morris made as a wallpaper design which was one of his favorite designs and used it to decorate his bedroom in London where he spent his final years. The name of the wallpaper design is 'Trellis'. It was based on roses growing over trellises in the garden at the Red House in Kent. In this pattern there was the help of Philip Webb, architect of the Red House. He drew the birds and insects. 

William Morris designed over 50 wallpapers, all of which are plant form related and whether they were expressed in a extravagent naturalism or a more formalised style. 

"The past is not dead, it is living in us, and will be alive in the future which we are now helping to make." - William Morris

References:

- Art Factory, 2014, 'William Morris - The Arts and Crafts Movement' [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/graphic_designers/william_morris.html  [Accessed at 3rd January 2014] 

- V&A, 2014, 'William Morris and Wallpaper Design' [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/w/william-morris-and-wallpaper-design/ [Accessed at 3rd January 2014]

- Tend Glam Media, 2001, 'Brainy Quote' [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/william_morris.html [Accessed at 3rd January 2014]