|
Copyright © 1999 by Bonnie Skaalid |
A shape is an enclosed object. Shapes can be created by line, or by color and value changes which define their edges. Volume and Mass Shape is considered to be a two-dimensional element, while three-dimensional elements have volume or mass. Therefore, a painting has shapes, while a sculpture has volume and mass. Positive/Negative shapes In a picture, the shapes that the artist has placed are considered the positive shapes. The spaces around the shapes are the negative spaces. It is just as important to consider the negative space in a picture as the positive shapes. Sometimes artists create pieces that have no distinction between positive and negative spaces. M. C. Escher was a master at creating drawings where there was no distinction between positive and negative space. Here are two examples of Escher's work which show the interplay between positive and negative space: Horses (50 k) Sky and Water (126 k) (These are large pictures and may take some time to view with a slower modem. All M.C. Escher works (c) Cordon Art B.V.-Baarn- the Netherlands. Used by permission. All rights reserved.) Elements
& Principles of Design:
[Line]
[Shape]
[Texture]
[Value
&
Color]
[Space]
[Movement]
[Balance]
[Emphasis]
[Unity] Main
Level: [Home
Page]
[Design
Theory][Site
Design]
[Page
Design]
[MultiMedia]
[Teacher
Resources]
[Table
of
Contents] |
