2 | Shape and Form
Key Vocabulary:
shape form geometric shape organic shape static dynamic
I. Shape
1. When a line curves around and crosses itself or intersects other lines to enclose a space it creates a shape
2. Is two-dimensional
3. It has height and width only
II. Form
1. Describes something with three dimensions
2. It has height, length, and width
3. Forms usually have weight and solidity
4. May have one continuous surface like a ping-pong ball, or many like a pinecone
5. Sculptors, architects, and product designers usually work with form
a. They create solid structures which have actual volume.
6. Cartoonists, painters, photographers, and collage artists usually work in 2 dimensions
a. When depicting form, the work can appear 3D, but it is still an illusion.
III. Categories of Shapes
1. Geometric Shapes
a. geometric shapes are precise and sharply defined.
b. many are easily recognized, such as circles, squares, and triangles
c. geometrics can be natural or manmade
2. Organic Shapes
a. Most natural objects have organic shapes
b. organics reflect free-flowing aspects of growth
c. Often curved or rounded and appear in a variety of informal and irregular shapes
3. Curved Shapes
a. graceful and tend to imply movement due to eye moving along the line smoothly
b. fluid appearance is usually organic
4. Angular Shapes
a. straight edged and usually imply strength and regularity
b. eye moves along line and is interrupted where two lines meet or one shape connects to another. This interruption creates tension.
c. Normally geometric.
5. Positive Shapes
a. These shapes are tangible, actual aspects of design.
b. In painting or drawing, positive shapes often represent solid forms like a fruit bowl.
c. In sculpture, positive shape is the work itself.
6. Negative Shapes
a. areas around the positive shapes or existing between them
b. in sculpture, this space is the empty space around and between the solid form.
IV. Qualities of Shapes
1. Light Shapes
a. require a lighter touch with subtle blending or blurring of edges
b. weight of a cloud
2. Heavy Shapes
a. have a strong hard quality
b. weight of a boulder
3. Smooth Shapes
a. can be flat and reflective like glass
b. smooth surfaces reflect light easily and can be very bright
4. Textured Shapes
a. tends to absorb light, and reflect less
b. the eye is slowed by the textured surface and does not skim across the surface as quickly as it does when smooth
5. Static Shapes
a. either in a vertical or horizontal position and appearing to be standing still or resting
6. Dynamic Shapes
a. either leaning or diagonal shapes suggest falling, running, or climbing.
b. the shapes appear to be active and are associated with change or movement
V. Form and Light
1. Both artificial and natural light have an enormous effect on forms
a. bright sunlight can create dark shadows and glaring highlights
b. low sun can create dull, flat shapes
c. the angle of light can define forms
1. overhead source of light usually creates shorter shadows and makes surface textures indistinct
2. light sources from the side will lengthen and distort shadows, calling attention to surface detail
3. on round or curved forms light will create gradual changes and shadows
4. understanding light and shadow is critical to the mastery of form
