1. Shape
A shape is an enclosed two-dimensional space

2. Geometric Shapes
Man made, machine like, perfect shapes.

3. Man Made Geometric Shapes

4. Organic Shape
In Nature

5. Organic Shapes
Nature like….. irregular edges.

6. Pattern
Repetition of Shapes

7. Pattern in Nature
What is it?

8. Positive Space - Negative Space
refers to figure refers to ground
Positive shapes occupy positive space. The area around
positive shapes, the background, is negative space.

9. Overlapping Shapes
Transparent Shapes Opaque Shapes

10. Maurits C. Escher Netherlands 1898 - 1972
Reversible Pattern

11. Piet Mondrian
1872 -1944
Netherlands
he expressed his
conception of harmony
and equilibrium
simples shapes, black
lines and primary colors

12. Shape as Form
Representing a 3-d object on a 2-d surface

13. Foreshortening Shape & Form
Making a 3-D object in a
picture appear to be seen
from an angle by shortening
1 or 2 of it’s dimensions

14. Shape & Size Constancy
A person seen at a distance is
“smaller” than a person close up,
but the perception of the size of
the person is constant.

15. Edward Hopper (American)
House by the Railroad (1925)
Oil on canvas, 24 inches x 29 inches
Museum of Modern Art, New York City
Organic or geometric shapes?…
Where?

16. Henry Matisse (French)
"Jazz“ 1947
Stencil print on Arches paper
16 3/4” x 12 ¾”
Paris / Artists Rights Society, New York

17. Activity
Use cut paper to create a composition using two or
three of the shape concepts we have discussed
Your composition subject may be realistic or abstract
After you have completed your composition, write a
paragraph explaining how you used shapes in your work

18. Shape Concepts
geometric shapes organic shapes shapes as forms
positive and negative shapes overlapping shapes
Or ???