NATURE MOTIFS APPLIED TO DESIGN 



IN CREATING ANY SORT of design, naturalistic motif or otherwise, it might be 

 well to observe first of all just how nature herself solves the problem of 

 arrangement within a defined area. Observe for instance how nature adapts 

 living forms to meet existing problems how in a densely wooded area 

 there is an attempt by each individual plant to procure the share of sunlight 

 necessary for its existence. Observe how a small brook follows the natural 

 contour of the earth water is held within a limited area by definite bound- 

 aries. It is possible to select any given area and see how nature fills it; or 

 it is possible to rearrange the component parts according to the demands 

 made by the problem at hand, for, in its final analysis, design is merely the 

 filling in, building up, or arranging the component parts of a given area in 

 a manner that is as pleasing as possible. The actual division of spaces de- 

 pends altogether upon the student. He may follow whatever artistic tradi- 

 tion he chooses, or he may create an entirely new design without regard to 

 any particular precedent. 



Professor Arthur W. Dow, in his very admirable textbook, "Composition," 

 designates the basic elements of design as LINE, MASS, and COLOR. It 

 might be well to keep these elements in mind in applying Nature Motifs to 

 design. LINE refers to boundaries of shapes and the inter-relations of lines 

 and spaces. MASS refers to the combination of light and dark spaces, and 

 COLOR refers to the quality of light. 



Rhythm 



Rhythmic Line 



Rhythm, or a feeling of flowing motion, is one of the basic principles and 

 is frequently found in nature. Rhythm is felt in two ways: through a moving 

 line, diagonal, spiral, or curved, or through repetition. We are often ex- 

 hilarated by the rhythmic line of a tree or branch, just as by a crescendo in 

 music. This same rhythmic motion is felt in the steady beat of the waves 



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