IMAGE ELEMENTS - SHAPES

Primary image elements are the parts of which a painting consists. They are: line, shape, size, texture, colour, tone.
Shapes have many faces but still they can be divided in categories:
organic shapes, constructive shapes, geometric shapes, flat shapes.

Shapes can be spacial - these are three dimensionsional, These kind of shapes are objects, like f.i. statues.
Shapes can be flat - these are two dimensional, the shape is as flat as a sheet. Reliefs - these have a surface, which has the form in it.

The way we create shapes: realistic shapes, functional shapes, abstract shapes. Realistic shapes look like real. Many times we have an example and try to get as close to how the example looks like.
Functional shapes are shapes made with a certain purpose to use them (f.i. design objects like lamps, furniture etc.)
Abstract shapes are shapes that are styled, details are taken away as much as possible and lines are simplified. The maker is trying to express the essence of the subject. An abstract shape can have a referrance to reality, but does not look like reality.


Most of us will be busy trying to get hold on realistic shapes. We try to depict reality a good as possible. Getting a grip on reality in a painting or drawing is a matter of watching your example very closely and trying to imitate it the best you can. Here are some usefull hints: Every subject has a core shape.
If you first recognize the core shape this helps you to draw the subject. Start with drawing the core shape and then add the things that are different in your subject.
Example: an apple has a circle as its core shape. You start drawing a circle. But an apple never is as round as your circle. The shape is not perfectly round and it has two holes, one for the stem on top and one the bottom. So you adjust your circle, make it a little wider where it needs to be and smaller where it needs to be. Add the stem.

It has Plasticity
Plasticity is what we call "depth", it looks as if you can walk around it. It looks 3 dimensional. Plasticity can be brought into your drawing/painting by adding shadows to it. Shadows are added in the places where little or no light falls on your subject. Most of the time light is very subtle. In order to grab the working of light on your subject I want you to find a lamp and put it next to your subject on the left side. Watch where the shadows are and where the highlights are. Notice that there are many shades of shadow and shades of light.

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