Walter Crane was one of the most important and prolific illustrators of the Victorian era and he leaves us a beautiful Storybook Garden of motifs to study. His work was heavily influenced by William Morris and the Pre-Raphaelites while leading us into the Art Nouveau style. From his unique florals and vines to his borders of whiplash curves and whimsical decorated initials, you can get lost in the details of his work. Crane provides a legacy of intricate black and white designs, calligraphic texts, and brilliant colour illustrations. His letter designs are based on Lombardic, Neoclassical and Art Nouveau styles and are in a league of their own. As we tend to the garden of inspiration provided by Walter Crane illustrations, students will explore his unique palette of colour as well as the strong elements that make his work so unique. From his woodblock designed roses to his long, linear border designs, Walter Crane is a master of decoration. We will study his florals, foliates and unique curves as we create a flowing letter and border design inspired by one of his antique illustrated books. This class is meant to give you a deep dive into the beauty, wonder and ornamental genius of Walter Crane. This class is open to all skill levels, even if you are an absolute beginner and have never studied the beauty of decorative letter design. My hope is that Walter Crane’s creative details will awaken a storybook garden of your own.