Element of Design - Shape

Shape: Something distinguished from its surroundings by its outline within your design. You can make your whole work a certain shape besides the common square, and then have shapes within the design shape. This makes the design more complex. Shapes can be geometric, like squares and circles; or organic, like free formed shapes or natural shapes. Organic shapes are shapes with a natural look and a flowing and curving appearance. For this reason, they are often also referred to as curvilinear shapes. Examples of organic shapes include the shapes of leaves, plants, and animals.

Artists utilize organic shapes and geometric shapes in different ways. When attempting to create a piece that looks natural, flowing, soft, peaceful, or calming, organic shapes are generally the shapes of choice. When attempting to create a sense of chaos, anger, or rigidity, geometric shapes are used. Geometric shapes may also be used to create abstract interpretations of things that would normally be depicted as organic shapes.





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.