Shape_Part1.

notebook

Tomakeart,artist'suseknowledge,observation,skill,hardworkandespecially
creativity.Belowarethetoolsthatartistsusetomakeart.Theyusethesetools
inskillful,knowledgeableandcreativeways.

repetition
emphasis

UNITY

balance
movement

CONTRAST

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The Elements of art and principles of Design

Shape Part1
Learning Goal(s)

1.
2.
3.
4.

Distinguish between geometric and freeform shape

Understand what it means for a shape to be "expressive"
Recognize expressive contours around shapes
Create shapes with expressive contours

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SHAPE
Ashapeisanareathatisseparatefromotherareasand/oritsbackground.
Theseparationcanbebyaboundarylineorachangeinvalue/color,textureor
anyotherdifferencethatletsyouseethattheshapeisdifferent.
Theboundarycanbeanoutlineoradistinctedgelikecutpaper,aroughedgelike
tornpaperorasoftedgelikeasmearofcharcoal.

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Someshapesaregeometric,

whileothersareorganic
orfreeform
(liketheonesfoundinnature)

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Objectsareoftenrecognizablejustbecauseoftheirshape.

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Objectsareoftenrecognizablejustbecauseoftheirshape.

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hendesigningcompositions,artiststry
touseshapesthatareexpressive,
variedandinteresting.

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hatmakesashapeexpressive?

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It'scontour.

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ontouristhewordusedtoreferto
theouteredgequalityoroutlineof
ashape.

Artistspayparticularattentiontoanobjectscontour.

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contours

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G oodartistsexaggeratethecontoursoftheirshapes,in

ordertomakethemmoreexpressive.Thisaddsenergy
andexpressiontotheirartwork.
checkouttheexpressivecontour!

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exaggeratedcontours

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expressivecontours

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Artistsfineuniqueandcreativewaystoemphasizeexpressivecontours.
inthiscase,GaryKelley
usesmeaningfulline
toemphasizecontour

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A rtistsuseline(variedweight)andvalue(tones)toemphasizeexpressivecontours.
tonal
contrast

tonal
contrast

line

tonal
contrast

line

line
line

line

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Contour
Drawing

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Artistsusecontourdrawingsasawayofpracticingtheskillof"seeing"expressive
contoursinthesubjectmatterthattheyobserve.Thenit'samatterof"drawing"the
expressivecontours.

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Tryone!
putyournondrawinghandinapose,thenkeepyoureyeson
yourhand,whileyoucarefullyandslowlydrawyourhand,
focussingespeciallyonthebumps,creases,dipsandcontours.
Useacontinuouslinethatdoesnotstop.

drawinteriorcreases,
linesandfoldsby
makingtheline,then
looparoundand
continuebackthe
samewayyoucame.

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Pretendyourpencilistracingthecontours
ofyourhand.

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Asanartist,trytoseeobjectsas"shapes"
andpayparticularattentiontothecontour
oftheshape.

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Study

Quick

Draw this horse as a single shape.

Focus on the contour (outer edge).
-it's like doing an outline!

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likethis

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Whenchoosingreferencephotosforprojects,usean"artist'seye"
andchoosesubjectmatterthathasinterestingshape.
Thisphotoofatigerlacksinterestingshape.

Thisphotoismuchbettertheshapeismore
interesting,withmoreexpressivecontours.

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