The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-23
door landscape work in black and white

The first work in original design is of an
elementary and geometric character and is
passed upon the underlying framework of
byzantlne mosaic and Moresque interlaced
strapwork
Natural plant forms are then taken up
anaiyzed and conventionaliZed-a adapt
ed In color to certain geometric borders
and panels.
:, Theory and practice are combined
throughout by lectures and work alter
nat!ng. The study of ancient art here
Deglns with lectures, but the work is of
ten times more practical value than the
history OF art alone would be, as prac-
tical work is done in the various styles of
historic ornament and illustrated essays
compiled from every lecture.
Inc knowledge thus acquired from the
study of drawing, nature, history, design,
geometry, color and art is then applied to
original and practical working drawings,
or designs adapted to various purposes,
places and material, such as woven fabrics,
| prints, stained glass, mosaic inlays, painted
decorations, wood and stone carvings, clay
| modelling, ornamental iron work, etc.
| Practlcal courses at the bench will be
given sim ultaneously in carving, modelling
| ana other branches of industrial art work
as soon as the demand lustifies the neces-
sary outlay.
This practical bench work is intended
SIMPLY to perfect the students knowledge
|
actual work, and differs from manual
training in the fact of being governed by
art feeling and principles.
Many of my old students are now fill
ing positions of honor and influence in
schools, colleges and factories in the East
ern States, and in Europe" said the pro-
lessor, land the outlook here is exceed
lngly favorable, as so many students show
decided ability in drawing and design, and
are doing very good work, and if tenacity
OF purpose does not forsake them they will
meet with great success
| Professor Ardley's aim is to foster origi-
nallty of thought and individuality OF ex-
preston III the design of practical work
! adapted to the highest order of decorative
| construction in harmony with true es-
thetlc principles and the history of art. In
structlon at the university is free and
| special courses may be taken.
The students have finished the prelim-
OF elementary design. One young lady
who came all the way from San Diego to
| study designing of tiles, carpets, wall
| papers, ETC., has succeeded in finishing
several excellent designs for thing in colors.
The majority of the students have done
| equally well, though left to their own in
dividual resources and restricted by certain
mechanical rules upon harmony of con-
trast of straight, oblique and curved lines
! in relation to repetition, proportion and
/ symmetry.
1t will be two or three years, however,
before much In the way of industrial art
work may be expected from the university
classes, for proficiency has to be reached
step by step.
After the preliminary years study, Pro-
| lessor Ardley has a stock of pencil sketches
from nature, water-color sketches and
analysis of the geomerrical aspect of flow
ers plucked around the campus and drawn
! from nature; also many striking evidences
of ability in drawing from casts and
models and still-life studies.
| This year all students will have to
adapt their respective floral sketches to
conventional forms and colors and then
weave decorative designs for wallpaper
or other ornaments. Meantime they are
studying practical work in Egyptian, AS
syrian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Mo.
rescue, Gothic and Renaissance art. With
all this knowledge and the skill acquired
they are ready for the designing of orna-
ments, founded upon nature and historic
designs, for prints, woven fabrics, stained
glass, mosaic inlays, painted decorations,
frescoes, wood and stone carving, clay
modelling and ornamental iron work.
These studies have been hitherto, for the
most part, undeveloped in the West al
though firmly established and richly en-
dowed in Europe and in many of the East
ern States. They are intended to carry the
! drawing-so essential as a foundation for
all art work-into the broader domain of
practical art in its application to those
| higher industries that are the natural out
growth OF the increasing demands of civili-
| cation.
Any part of the work may be selected if
| the student Is prepared to undertake it. A
civil engineer, for instance, may desire to
| take landscape drawing or perspective; an
architect, elementary design or historic or
nament; teacher may select a course in
drawing, etc. Qualified students with spe-
cial aims will thus receive special and indi-
| vidual training, independently of the draw
ing prescribed for regular students in the
other courses of the university.
The professor points with pride to speci-
mems of wood-carving in the Italian re-
Nuisance, Moresque, Gothic and conven-
tional styles done by his students in the
University OF Minnesota. His former
pupils won gold medals for ornamental
iron work, and, while still studying under
him, sold original designs to woolen-mills,
wallpaper factories and tile works. He
| says assuringly that in a few years Califor-
MIA boys and girls will be able to compete
with the East and Europe in industrial art
work.
'The State of California has spent many
millions of dollars abroad for work in dec
orative and industrial art that might have
/ been done at home had such department
of instruction existed here years ago."
said he. when such buildings as the
Mark Hopkins residence and others were
constructed all the money spent in decora-
ton went abroad, as competent men could
not be obtained here. Our fine carpets,
wallpaper, furniture, tiles, pottery, table
linen, tableware, jewelry-everything is
brought here, while our State is rich in
raw material awaiting development. This
is all wrong.
eve may as well mold our clay into
Greek vases as into fower-pots and our
timber into fine furniture instead of fence
rails. The best results in education must
come from the com bination of theory with
practice, of art and artisan, of use and
beauty; where the skilled hand is taught
to express what the artistic mind con-
| ceives.
"When young people go forth into the
world they are seldom asked, What do you
know? but more frequently, What can
you do?
when the mind and hand are united
together they are the factors of everything
useful and beautiful that we enjoy; it
therefore stands to reason that we should
educate them together"
In the RerkeleV school there is certainly