What is Soft Material Craft, Definition and Function
Rancakmedia.com – Have you ever heard of what soft material craft is? Maybe only some people know, to make it clearer, let's look at the article that we have provided below.
The various products marketed in various metropolitan areas generally include handcrafted soft materials made from natural and artificial soft materials. Wax, plastic, gypsum, plasticine, paraffin, polymer clay, fiberglass and even soap are examples of soft materials used in crafts.
Meanwhile, photo frames, decorations, key chains and other similar products made of soft materials are on the market. Currently, the import industry has dominated the use of soft materials as craft materials.
The presence of handicrafts made from soft materials has succeeded in attracting appeal, seduction, and quality for urban customers who demand beauty, practicality, and low costs.
Definition of Soft Material Crafts
In essence, various handicrafts are made of soft materials that are easy to shape, both natural and artificial. Soft material crafts are handicraft products that use soft base materials, especially those that are flexible, soft, soft and easy to shape.
(Ministry of Education and Culture Team, 2017, p. 8). Generally, at the final stage of the manufacturing process, this craft will be hardened or self-hardened in a certain way so that it is stronger and lasts longer. Decorative items made of soft materials are available in a variety of shapes and crafts to meet a variety of practical needs.
There is a high demand in society, such as wedding party souvenirs, costume party facilities, birthday party accessories and certificates, goodbye party souvenirs, and everyday furniture.
Principles of Crafting Soft Materials
As with creative works in general, there are several benchmarks, aspects or foundations that will produce crafts of very good quality and in accordance with the reason for which they were made.
To make a soft material, you have to follow the concepts outlined below.
Hand Skills
Hand skills are used to make crafts as well as other types of crafts. Even though many handicrafts are produced, handicraft products still depend on human hands and do not depend on machine power like industrial products. Utilizing a skilled craftsman still has a significant craft, and this is a key lesson to remember.
Engineering Skills
Handicrafts are made by repeating a process and using a set of technical skills. so that the final product undoubtedly has a characteristic that seems complicated, sophisticated, and can only be done with the most effective approach in producing it. These technical skills are still closely related to the hands skills of a pilot who has spent a great deal of time flying in this area.
Regional or Traditional
Crafts are distinguished by practicality, absorbency and mass production. But crafts are still made by hand and technical skills, so they will still be influenced by local culture and traditions.
To some extent, local culture will still influence current or modern crafts, such as key chains. Key chains made in Bandung (mountain area) will be different from key chains made in Bali by local (coastal) craftsmen.
Principles of Usefulness of Soft Crafts
When making crafts from natural and synthetic soft materials, it is important to remember the concept of integration. “Integration” means using additional materials of different colors and shapes while keeping them in line with the main elements.
Alloying is also possible with materials that are identical in composition but have different physical properties. For the most part, these jobs fall into the following categories, as explained by the Ministry of Education and Culture Team (2017, p. 8).
Clothing Accessories
Soft material craft products are made with the consideration that these products can beautify themselves in the use of clothing. Accessories such as bracelets, necklaces, safety pins and rings are examples of accessories.
Completeness of an Object
Crafts from soft materials that act as a whole thing. For example, a tissue box equipped with ceramic ornaments on the face. Ceramics can be taken out and used in another tissue box when not in use.
Home or Building Equipment
Some homes and buildings benefit from the addition of handmade products. For example, a frog-shaped fountain in the yard.
Completeness of Ritual Needs or Traditional Ceremonies
The many traditional rituals and ceremonies of the archipelago can also be enhanced by various soft material crafts. Candles, for example. Traditionally, candles are lit for various religious ceremonies and social gatherings.
Function or Purpose of Soft Material Crafts
Based on the usability idea above, soft material crafts can be classified as products that have the following functions or purposes.
- Adding to the beauty The availability of soft craft materials can enrich the look.
- Gives focus or originality to something. If you have a soft material to make with it, then everything will look unique.
- Being a prerequisite for the use of soft material Craft is a must to take advantage of. If not used, then it means nothing.
- is a sign or symbol. As a statement or symbol of an interest, handmade products made of soft materials are often used.
- made specifically to match the specifications of the original item (duplication). Crafts made from soft materials are carefully crafted to look like the real thing for many reasons and needs.
- As part of a work of art. Because it reflects the expression of the cultural diversity of the archipelago, soft material crafts are part of works of art (Team of the Ministry of Education and Culture, 2017, p. 10).
Soft Craft Type
Various types and qualities of soft materials are expected. Here is a list of the most common types of soft materials and their uses.
Types of Soft Materials for Crafts
Natural soft materials and artificial soft materials are two soft material products that are often used in handicrafts. The two categories of soft materials are described in the following paragraphs.
Natural soft materials are soft materials for crafts taken from the natural environment, and the processing procedures are also naturally not combined or mixed with artificial materials (Team of the Ministry of Education and Culture, 2017, p. 12). Natural soft materials include, for example, the following:
- Clay
- skin
- Real sap
- Tissue porridge
- Flour clay
Artificial soft materials are materials that are treated and mixed with certain chemicals so that they become soft, soft, smooth, and malleable. Examples of artificial soft materials used are:
- Candle
- Cast
- Polymer clays
- Soap
- Paraffin
Aesthetic and Ergonomic Elements of Soft Craft Products
Below are the aesthetic and ergonomic elements of the product, namely:
Aesthetic Elements
The aesthetic aspect or what is considered beauty. Beauty is a consequence of the aesthetic value that follows the work of art that is achieved.
The value of beauty or uniqueness (aesthetics) of a work of art has a system: unity, harmony, balance and contrast, so that it can create an extraordinary feeling of comfort, happiness and pleasure.
Ergonomic Elements
Ergonomic elements are works that can be related to function or usability features, as below.
- Security is a guarantee for people who use craft products.
- Convenience is a sense of comfort that arises when the craft product is used
- Dexterity is a matter of flexibility of use. Craft product is a product that is obtained from a craft in accordance with its use or application.
Conclusion
What is Craft material soft? is a handicraft made from soft materials that are easy to shape, both natural and artificial.
Handicrafts are made by repeating a process and using a set of technical skills. That's an article about soft material crafts, I hope the above article can be helpful and useful for all of you.