Ms. Ashrafi S. Bhagat, 
(M.A., M. Phil.)
Head, Department of Fine Arts,
Stella Maris College, Chennai
She is the
recipent of a Merit Scholarship from Madras University for obtaining IInd State
Rank inB. A. Degree
1975. Shewon the proficiency prize in M.A and the Best Outgoing student of the
department in 1977. M. Phil. 1989. Ms.Bhagat has assisted Dr. (Sr.) Edith
Tomory fmm. In her book “History Of Fine Arts In India And The West” for one
year 1977-78, by contributing to the text and visuals. She has received
Teachers Fellowship from U.G.C (University Grant Commission) for pursuing PHD.
Research centered on the Madras Art Movement : Decades of 60s and 70s. Thesis
work in progress. She has been teaching for the past 26 years . Heading the
department from 2001. She is a connoisseur of art and an art critic who reviews
art for leading publications. |
In this lesson, shape as an
element of design will be explained. We are all familiar with the word shape.
What does it mean in art? 'Shape' can be defined as an area that stands out
from the space next to it because of a defined or implied boundary.
.Differences of value, colour or texture also create shapes.
Certain
shapes relate to geometry such as squares, circles, and triangles and hence are
called geometric shapes. A look at Piet Mondrian's painting (visual 1) shows
that geometric shapes are regular and precise. They are often crisp and hard
edged. Shapes that resemble a living organism are called organic or biomorphic
shapes. .From Jean Arp's sculpture (visual 2) it is obvious that biomorphic
shapes are free flowing, curvilinear and derived from nature. They are
suggestive of life and growth.
Visual
1
As
is apparent from the visual, the lines defining the ballet dancer’s
billowing outfit are not continuous; however, the total form is implied.
When it defines the outermost limits of an object it is known as contour. |
 Piet Mondrian, Composition in Red,
Blue and Yellow, 1930 |
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Visual 2
Jean Arp, Growth, 1938, Bronze. |
Visual
3
It
would help understand the following physical properties of line.
Oil on canvas
Shapes can be two dimensional or three dimensional as is evident from
the above examples. Two dimensional shapes have the capacity to create
an illusion of depth and volume (visual 3). A distinct example to illustrate
the fundamental two dimensionality of the shape is in the work of Jamini
Roy who uses clearly outlined, flat, decorative shapes, in other words,
two dimensional shapes (visual 4). Shapes can also be indistinct, misty
and amorphous as in Monet's work (visual 5). |
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Visual 4
Jamini Roy, A Woman, !940s, Tempera |
Visual 5
Claude Monet,Water Lillies, 1919-26, Oil on canvas
It would be interesting to understand the principle of Gestalt which
is a German word meaning form. According to Gestalt psychologists, our
mind tends to see all forms as organized and complete wholes or in other
words as a totality. It is only as we begin to focus that individual
parts are perceived. So we see individual elements in relation to other
elements. In visual 6 we tend to read shapes although they are not clearly
demarcated as areas of shapes. Perhaps one could be left to ponder on
the power of shapes after having a look at visual 6. In keeping with
the Gestalt principles, we see the vase on a white ground when we focus
on the dark areas. If we were to focus on the white areas, we perceive
human profiles on a dark ground.
Character: The character of a line also depends on the medium
with which it is created. The crisp and firm lines of a pen, the fluid
lines of a brush rendered with ink or liquid paint or the soft lines
of pastel possess a unique personality and emotional quality.
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Visual 6
In any
art form, the negative space within a composition needs to be given importance.
If treated effectively the negative space can enhance the composition to a
great extent.
Thus shape has innumerable possibilities with which the artist can create
interesting effects. |
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