Elements of Art
The common language of artists
Elements of Art
Form
Because a form has height , width and depth it is called three-dimensional (3-D). For example, your body has height, width, and depth, so it is a three-dimensional form.
Shapes may be transformed into forms. The first image of a coffee mug shows
only the edges (contour) of the mug, so it is two-dimensional and is called a shape. Only the height and width have been shown.In the second, curved lines provide more information in this drawing so it seems as if it is rounded, or has depth, the third dimension. It looks more like a real mug.
What form is suggested by the contour outline on the left?Did you guess the apple and shaker illustrated on the right? More information, by the use of tone and texture, shows what the contour outline did not. Twisted and folded ends on the leaf and peel show cubic and cylindrical forms. The form of the shaker, knife, and apple are clearly identifiable. The shape has been transformed into a form.
Buildings are often based on the following simple forms:
Shapes may be transformed into forms. The first image of a coffee mug shows
only the edges (contour) of the mug, so it is two-dimensional and is called a shape. Only the height and width have been shown.In the second, curved lines provide more information in this drawing so it seems as if it is rounded, or has depth, the third dimension. It looks more like a real mug.What form is suggested by the contour outline on the left?Did you guess the apple and shaker illustrated on the right? More information, by the use of tone and texture, shows what the contour outline did not. Twisted and folded ends on the leaf and peel show cubic and cylindrical forms. The form of the shaker, knife, and apple are clearly identifiable. The shape has been transformed into a form.Buildings are often based on the following simple forms:
- cubes and rectangular prisms
- pyramids
- spheres
Shells, plants, rocks, and other inanimate objects can suggest forms for exciting buildings. One such example is the beautiful opera house in Sydney, Australia, designed by Jørn Utzon. This building has an interesting roof shape resembling the billowing sails of boats in the harbour.
"The construction of the beautiful freestanding, sculptural tripartite Opera House was one of the longest contractual sagas of the century. Sadly, architect Jorn Utzon became the scapegoat of a scandalous political affair and in 1966 withdrew from his project. Sitting on Bennelong Point, virtually in the Harbour and overlooked by the great Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House is completely exposed, as three-dimensional as the orange segments its forms are based on. It is all roofs with an imposing base. These were made possible by Ove Arup. Originally the winner of an international open competition in 1957, it was a scheme that broke most of the rules. It was finally completed in August 1973 by other hands under the direction of Peter Hall."
Today many new ways are being used to build. One interesting form is the geodesic dome. A geodesic dome is a combination of shapes and/or form(s). The repeated shape of a basic geodesic dome is an equilateral triangle and its basic form is half or more of a sphere . The geodesic dome can be built with almost any available materials:
"The construction of the beautiful freestanding, sculptural tripartite Opera House was one of the longest contractual sagas of the century. Sadly, architect Jorn Utzon became the scapegoat of a scandalous political affair and in 1966 withdrew from his project. Sitting on Bennelong Point, virtually in the Harbour and overlooked by the great Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House is completely exposed, as three-dimensional as the orange segments its forms are based on. It is all roofs with an imposing base. These were made possible by Ove Arup. Originally the winner of an international open competition in 1957, it was a scheme that broke most of the rules. It was finally completed in August 1973 by other hands under the direction of Peter Hall."Today many new ways are being used to build. One interesting form is the geodesic dome. A geodesic dome is a combination of shapes and/or form(s). The repeated shape of a basic geodesic dome is an equilateral triangle and its basic form is half or more of a sphere . The geodesic dome can be built with almost any available materials:
- wood
- metal
- plastic
- glass