Shape When line curves around and encloses itself or intersects other lines to enclose a space, it creates a Shape. Like a silhouette or an outline, a shape is 2-dimensional. Shapes have height and width, but no depth.
Types of Shapes 2 Categories: Geometric shapes Organic shapes
Geometric Shapes Precise and sharply defined shapes such as circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, etc…
Geometric shapes
Geometric Shapes in nature
Organic Shapes Most natural objects have organic shapes. Organic shapes reflect the free-flowing aspects of growth. They are often curved or rounded and appear in a variety of informal and irregular shapes.
Positive and Negative Shapes Every design is made up of positive and negative shapes. Positive shapes are the tangible actual aspects of the design (the subjects). Negative shapes are the areas that either surround the positive shapes or exist between them. Positive and Negative shapes are equally important. A successful design is one that carefully balances both.
Cyanotypes
M.C. Escher : Master of Positive and Negative Shapes Sky and Water Woodcut 1938
Day and Night Woodcut
Lizard 1942
Qualities of Shapes Shapes and forms have different qualities. To understand a shape’s quality or appearance, you can use your senses.
Using your sense of sight and touch tells you that this dandelion is soft and has delicate shape
Light and Heavy Shapes To draw or construct shapes effectively, an artist must understand how to convey qualities such as lightness and heaviness. Soft floating clouds usually require a lighter touch with a subtle blending or blurring of edges while rocks and boulder, on the other hand, demand a strong, hard quality. Thomas Moran The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, 1872 Oil on Canvas 7’x12’
Static and Dynamic Shapes The position of a shape is important and can suggest rest and stability or a feeling of energy and movement. Shapes that are in either a vertical or horizontal position will appear to be standing still or resting, these shapes are static. Leaning or diagonal shapes suggest falling, running or climbing. These shapes appear to be active or dynamic. They are associated with change or movement.
Compare and contrast the shapes and forms in these pictures. Ancient Egypt Four Colossi of Ramses, 1257 B.C. From the Temple of Ramses II 59’ high Abu Simbel Charles Demuth Three Acrobats, 1916 Watercolor and graphite on paper, 13” x 8”
The angle of light helps define the forms we see
Kumi Yamashita An Exclamation Mark, 1995 Wood, light, cast shadow 48”x78”x6”
Light is a powerful part of design; it has a strong impact on both the shapes and forms you see and reproduce in art.
An understanding of light and shadow is critical to the mastery of form.