EofA: Shapes and Forms

Shape and Form

Shape

Form

• Shape and form define objects in space. Shapes have two dimensions—height and width—and are usually defined by lines. Forms exist in three dimensions, with height, width, and depth.

• Form has depth as well as width and height. Three-dimensional form is the basis of sculpture, furniture, and decorative arts. Three-dimensional forms can be seen from more than one side, such as this sculpture of a rearing horse.

• Shape has only height and width. Shape is usually, though not always, defined by line, which can provide its contour. In this image, rectangles and ovals dominate the composition. They describe the architectural details for an illusionist ceiling fresco.

Categories of Shapes

Geometric Shapes

Geometric shapes and forms

• Artists and designers use various types of shapes and forms to create their finished products.
• Shapes fit easily into two basic catagories:
• Geometric
• Organic

• Precise and sharply defined
• Circles, squares and triangle
• Often see such shapes in architecture
• Many manufactured and handmade products are based on geometric shapes
• In nature honeybees make combs whose cells are in the shape of a hexagon and an orange resembles the form of a shpere

• Geometric shapes and forms include mathematical, named shapes such as squares, rectangles, circles, cubes, spheres, and cones. Geometric shapes and forms are often man-made. However, many natural forms also have geometric shapes. This cabinet is decorated with designs of geometric shapes.

Review Questions

Organic Shapes

Organic shapes and forms

Curved Shapes

• Reflect the free-flowing aspects of growth
• Often curved or rounded and appear in a variety of informal and irregular shapes
• The form of a pear is organic
• So too is the shape of a maple leaf

• Shapes that are curved are graceful
• Because the eye rapidly sweeps along them without interruption, they tend to imply movement

• Organic shapes and forms are typically irregular or asymmetrical. Organic shapes are often found in nature, but man-made shapes can also imitate organic forms. This wreath uses organic forms to simulate leaves and berries.

• Define shape and form. Give an example of shape and a related form.
• What is the difference between a geometric and an organic shape. Give an example of each?
• What are positive and negative shapes?
• List six qualities of shapes. Use those qualities to describe the art you used for the +/- space exercise.

Angular Shapes

Positive and Negative Shapes

• Negative shapes are the areas that either surround the positive shapes or exist between them.
• In still-life painting, they are the area around the bowl of fruit. Between fruit forms, or in the background.
• In sculpture, the negative shapes are the empty spaces around and between the solid forms.

• Angular shapes, on the other hand are straight-edged
• When you look at angular shapes, your eyes move along the shape and stop momentarily where one shape connects with another.

• Whether it is a painting, sculpture, building or photograph – it is made up of positive and negative shapes
• Positive shapes are the tangible, actual aspects of a design.
• In painting or drawing, they often represent solid forms, such as a bowl of fruit in a still life.
• In sculpture the positive shapes are the solid forms of the sculpture itself.

Elements of Art

Shape and Form

Pattern

Light and Form

Qualities of Shape

Light and Heavy Shapes

• Angle of light also helps define the forms we see.
• An overhead source of light usually creates shorter shadows and can make surface textures indistinct.
• A source form one side will lengthen and distort the shadows, calling attention to details of surface texture.

• In this photograph, geometric shapes and lines are repeated to create a pattern.

• Both artificial and natural light have an enormous effect on shapes and forms
• Bright sunlight can create dark shadows and glaring highlights
• As the sun sets or go behind a cloud, crisp, well-defined landforms change to dark, flat shapes

• Positive and negative shapes are equally important
• Successful design is one that carefully balances both
• Sculpture and silhouettes present a strong contrast between positive and negative shapes.

• There is a striking difference between the perceived weight of a cloud and that of a boulder
• An artist must understand how to convey qualities such as lightness and heaviness
• Soft floating clouds require a lighter touch with subtle blending or blurring of edges
• Rock and boulders demand a strong, hard quality.

• Shapes and forms also have different qualities
• Your sense of sight can tell you is a shape is pleasing to look at
• Touch and sight will tell you about a form’s surface and weight
• Through sight, touch, taste, and even hearing its crunch, you know that an apple is hard and crisp
• Being aware of appearances – such as perceived weight, surface quality, and position – will help you portray shapes and forms convincingly in your designs

Light strongly affects the surface qualities of a shape

Smooth and Textured Shapes

• Smooth surface reflects light easily, and the reflections can be very bright.

• Heavily textured surfaces tend to absorb light, thereby reflecting far less.

• Light is a powerful part of design
• It has a strong impact on both the shapes and forms that you see and reproduce in your art
• An understanding of light and shadow is critical to the mastery of form.

• On rounded or curved forms, light creates gradual changes and shadows.
• The brightest and darkest areas are separated from one another by many gradations of light.
• On angular and sharp-edged forms however, the changes, can be sudden.
• The brightest highlight may appear right next to the darkest shadows.

• Is the surface flat and reflective like a pane of glass? Or rough and pitted like tree bark?
• The speed of your observation is slowed by a textured surface, such as an intricately knitted sweater or the shell of a turtle.

Thomas Moran

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, 1872

Smithsonian Institution

Static v. Dynamic

Static and Dynamic Shapes

Static v. Dynamic

Dynamic Shapes

Static Shapes

• Static shapes in a combination of vertical trees and a horizontal stream imply quiet and calm.
• Convey permanence and power.
• The static shapes of this ancient temple display a sense of solidity and immovability; such constructions announced to all that the great pharaohs who built them were to be obeyed and respected

• Artists use dynamic shapes to achieve a more active feeling.
• Notice the curved and fluid shapes
• The shapes produce an atmosphere of movement and change; the figures seem to be whirling across the paper. Soft watercolors and light pencil lines underneath add to the airiness of the design.

• The position of a shape or form is important and might suggest rest and stability or a feeling of energy and movement. Shapes that are in either a vertical or a 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. Dynamic shapes are associated with change or movement.

Pattern

• Repeated shapes and forms also create patterns. On this manuscript page, the repeating organic floral shapes create a pattern.