“The object of art is to give life a shape.”
Jean Anouilh – French playwright
Shape is one of the basic elements of art, along with line, texture, color, space and composition. Shape defines an object in space. Shape and form go hand-in-hand. While shape has only height and width—like an object depicted in a two-dimensional painting—form has depth as well as width and height—as in a sculpture, or something you can touch in the real world.
Types of Shapes
Geometric shapes and forms are man-made. They include mathematical shapes like squares, rectangles, cubes, circles, spheres, triangles and cones.
Examples of artists who use primarily geometric shapes in their works:
Louis Lozowick
Ellsworth Kelly
Alvin Loving
Organic shapes (also called natural shapes)are often found in nature. They have a natural look, and may have sides that are lopsided and bumpy, curvy and flowing, uneven or imperfect. Examples of organic shapes are leaves, clouds, animals, rocks, and more. Artists often imitate organic shapes in their works.
Examples of artists who use primarily organic shapes in their works:
Georgia O’Keefe
Joan Miró
SHAPE AND PATTERN
Repeated shapes create a pattern. Patterns give pictures a feeling of texture.
Repeated Shapes
Discuss:
Would a fish be organic shape or geometric shape?
Would a flower be organic shape or geometric shape?
Do natural shapes have soft flowing lines or rigid, straight lines?
