Shape and form (visual arts)

In the visual arts, shape is a flat, enclosed area of an artwork created through line, texture, colour or an area enclosed by other shapes.^[1] Likewise, a form can refer to a three-dimensional composition or object within a three-dimensional composition.^[2]

Shape

The outline of an object in a 2D view.

Form

A form is an artist's way of using elements of art, principles of design, and media. Element of art that is three-dimensional and encloses space. Like a shape, a form has length and width, but it also has depth. Forms are either geometric or free-form.

Categories

Geometric and Organic

Geometric shapes are precise edged and mathematically consistent curves, they are pure forms and so consist of circles, squares, spirals, triangles, while geometric forms are simple volumes, such as cubes, cylinders and pyramids.^[3] They generally dominate architecture, technology, industry and crystalline structures.

In contrast, organic shapes are free-form, unpredictable and flowing in appearance. These shapes, as well as organic forms, visually suggest the natural world of animals, plants, sky, sea, etc... The addition of organic shapes to a composition dominated by geometric structures can add unpredictable energy.^[4]

Bell-shaped flowers

Rectilinear and Curvilinear

Definitions:

Rectilinear- characterized by straight lines.

Curvilinear- consisting of or bounded by curved lines: a curvilinear figure.

Examples:

Rectilinear- http://mathworld.wolfram.com/RectilinearCrossingNumber.html

Curvilinear- http://www.marklaurence.com/articles/discourse_on_curves.html

Positive and Negative

A positive shape is a shape, that has details inside it, such as an outline of a human, with body features. While, a negative shape is a shape without any details; it's just an outline.

See also

• Elements of art
• Composition (visual arts)
• Design elements and principles

References

1. NIU School of Art Vocabulary URL accessed December 15, 2008
2. Stewart. p. 381. Missing or empty |title= (help)
3. Stewart. pp. 378–384. Missing or empty |title= (help)
4. Stewart. p. 32. Missing or empty |title= (help)

Further reading

• Gatto, Porter, and Selleck. Exploring Visual Design: The Elements and Principles. 3rd ed. Worcester: Davis Publications, Inc., 2000. ISBN 0-87192-379-3
• Stewart, Mary, Launching the imagination: a comprehensive guide to basic design. 2nd ed. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2006. ISBN 0-07-287061-3

External links

• http://www.niu.edu/art/foundations/site/Vocabulary.htm