CHAPTER 2: AESTHETIC ARTS AND CRAFTS
The Difference between Aesthetic Arts and Crafts
Aesthetics is derived from the Greek word eisthesis, meaning "perception." It is a branch
of philosophy dedicated to the study of art and beauty, a term popularized during the 18th
century by German philosopher Alexander Baumgarten. This term also refers to the
principles governing the nature and appreciation of beauty, especially in visual art (Rader,
1979).
On the other hand, the term “craft” comes from the German word Kraft, meaning "power"
or "ability." It is usually applied to branches of decorative arts or artistic practices,
implying the application of human skill through handwork. Crafts tend to produce objects
for various human purposes and often exhibit beauty around a goal external to the object
itself (Dutton, 1990).
Arts and Crafts began during the 19th century in Europe as both a design reform and a
social movement, motivated by William Morris. This movement involves activities related
to making things that require a combination of skill, speed, and patience.
William Morris, born on March 24, 1834, in Walthamstow, England, was known for his
pattern designs, especially on fabrics and wallpapers. As a proponent of socialist ideals,
Morris believed that a designer should have skills in any media to produce intricate
designs featuring intertwining fruits, flowers, and foliage patterns. Morris died on October
3, 1896, in London at the age of 62.
Types of Arts and Crafts
Artists may possess unique skills and perceptive abilities, but they are also driven by
needs and the motivation to meet those needs. Creating different works of art accepted
by an audience can lead to social acceptance and recognition. These works of art are
often used to create pleasing environments. Arts and crafts have different types,
including textile, wood, metal, paper, canvas, and plant crafts.
Textile Crafts
The word "textile" is from the Latin phrase texere, which means "to braid" or "to
construct." Textile crafts refer to any craft involving fabric, yarn, or surface design, using
natural or synthetic fibers to create practical or decorative objects. Examples include:
Cross-stitch – A popular form of counted-thread embroidery using X-shaped stitches to
form pictures.
Crochet – Creating fabric from yarn, thread, or strands using a crochet hook.
Sewing – Fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread.
Weaving – A method of fabric production where yarns are interlaced at right angles to
form cloth.
Tatting – Handcrafting durable lace with knots and loops.
Shoemaking – The process of making footwear.
Lace – An openwork fabric patterned with open holes, made by hand or machine.
Macramé – A form of textile-making requiring basic knotting skills.
Millinery – Designing and manufacturing hats.
String Art – Arranging colored thread between points to form geometric designs.
Wood Crafts
Wood crafts involve skills related to working with wood, often used for practical or
aesthetic purposes. Examples include:
Carpentry – The skilled trade of cutting, shaping, and installing building materials.
Marquetry – The art of applying pieces of veneer to form decorative designs.
Woodturning – A woodworking technique to create wooden objects.
Wood Carving – Crafting wooden figures or objects with a knife or chisel.
Cabinetry – Making furniture with doors and drawers for storage.
Upholstery – Building and covering furniture cushions.
Metal Crafts
Metal crafts involve executing artistic designs in metal for practical or aesthetic purposes,
using materials like bronze, silver, gold, and copper. Examples include:
Jewelry – Personal adornments like brooches, rings, and bracelets.
Metal Casting – Pouring liquid materials into molds to create shapes.
Welded Sculpture – Creating statues using welding techniques.
Paper or Canvas Crafts
These crafts involve using durable fabrics for creating functional or decorative objects.
Examples include:
Bookbinding – Assembling books from folded or unfolded sheets of paper.
Card Making – Producing hand-made greeting cards.
Collage – Making art from an assemblage of forms to create a new whole.
Origami – The Japanese art of paper folding.
Paper-Mâché – A material made from paper pieces or pulp bound with adhesive.
Scrapbooking – Arranging and preserving personal or family history in book form.
Rubber Stamping – Crafting with ink and carved rubber images.
Plant Crafts
Plant crafts use plant materials as a medium. Examples include:
Corn Dolly Making – Making shapes and figures from straw.
Floral Design – Arranging plant materials and flowers to create balanced compositions.
Pressed Flower Craft – Drying and pressing flowers to preserve them in a flat form.
Principles of Understanding Artistic Design and Composition
Art principles are created by combining art elements. Artists use these organizing
principles to develop forms that inform. Fundamental principles of art include harmony,
variety, balance, movement, emphasis, proportion, and rhythm. A complete
understanding of these principles is essential for analyzing or composing artwork (Elsen,
1981).
Harmony – Achieved when all elements of art interact well within an artwork, often by
using similar shapes, lines, or colors to create unity.
Variety – Accomplished by using differing colors, lines, and shapes to highlight key areas
and emphasize certain aspects of an artwork.
Balance – Refers to the symmetry or harmony of opposing visual forces in an artwork.
Emphasis – The focal point of an artwork, drawing the viewer's attention to a specific
area.
Movement – The way the viewer’s eye moves throughout the artwork, often guided by
patterns or focal points.
Proportion – Created when elements in an artwork are combined in harmonious sizes,
with parts logically relating to one another.
Rhythm – Formed by repeating certain colors, lines, or shapes to create visual patterns
and textures.
Motivated Functions of Art
Motivated purposes of art involve intentional and conscious actions by the artist. Art can
bring political change, convey propaganda, or communicate ideas and emotions (Holly,
2002). Primary motivated functions include:
Art for Acting – Aimed at evoking emotion or entertaining the viewer.
Art for Healing – Used in art therapy to facilitate healing.
Art for Political Change – Visual images used to inspire legislative or social change.
Art for Propaganda (Commercialism) – Art created to influence popular ideas or moods.
Art for Communication – A form of art that communicates emotions, feelings, or moods to
others.
