Element of Art: Form

Physical characteristics Varieties of Form

Form in relations to other Elements of Art

FormO a form is a three-dimensional

geometrical figure (i.e.: sphere, cube, cylinder, cone, etc.), as opposed to a shape, which is two-dimensional, or flat.

FormO In a broader sense, form, in art,

means the whole of a piece's visible elements and the way those elements are united.

O Form allows the viewers to mentally capture the work, understand it and attempt to analyze it.

Understanding Form O Form refers to the visible

elements of a piece, independent of their meaning.

For example, when viewing Leonardo's Mona Lisa, the formal elements therein are: color, space, lines, shape, etc., while the feelings of mystery and intrigue the piece evokes are informal products of the viewer's imagination.

Understanding FormO When drawing

representationally, the goal is to create the illusion of form.

O To create the illusion of form by understanding how light reacts on the object.

Understanding FormO Light reacts on objects and is communicated to viewers through

several factors. Adjusting these areas with values of the local color will result in the illusion of form in a drawing or painting.

O The highlight is the area where light is hitting the object directly.

O The midtone is the middle value of the local color of the object.

O The core shadow is the area(s) that is shaded on the object.

O The cast shadow is the area(s) that is shaded on surrounding objects and surfaces because of blocked light.

O The reflected highlight is the area on an object that is lighter because of reflected light off of surrounding objects.

In Video

PlatesShape:Plate 11: Brush strokesPlate 12: Deconstructing Figures into Simple ShapesForm:Plate 13:Types of Form using pencilPlate 14: Types of Form using Technical PenPlate 15: Types of Form using brushesPlate 16: Deconstruction of Figure using Form

Sample for Plate 12

Plate 12: Deconstructing Figures into Simple

Shapes

Plate 16: Deconstruction of Figure using Form

Deconstruct the Image

Below