“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?