SHAPES IN ART

Untitled work in design process,  14" X 11"  Lori LaBerge  2018

Shape is an important part of the design process. The shape of a work has to be decided on as well as how shapes will be formed within the work.

Start of design idea for overlay, Lori LaBerge  2018

My current work is developed in three layers. An underlayer, an overlayer and a blueprint layer.

Shapes we see are defined by other shapes around them. The shape of the turquoise rectangle above is a rectangle due to the way the shapes around it are placed. If one or more other shapes had been overlapped onto the rectangle the shape could easily change. If one shape changes due to the shape of another the decision has to be made as to whether the new shape works with the artist's intention or not.

The intention of the overlayer shown above is to show an aerial view of a city section. Things begin to change again when the blueprint layer (in white lines) is added to the work. 

Shapes in the work become divided, forming other shapes. For example, the red on the left is now divided into three shapes, an L and two rectangles. The only diagonal line is added to the bottom right which forms a triangle in a section of the dark gray. The blueprint section is an open shape which can be entered near the diagonal line. The variety is added by the background being composed of closed shapes.

Related designs in progress

Changes in shape led to the related ideas above. The large circle overlapped by turquoise vs. the small circle. The horizontal rectangular turquoise vs. the mint green vertical rectangle. The vertical ivory line not touching the top of the work vs. touching the top. The royal blue rectangle extended beyond the turquoise vs. the light blue being shorter and held within the green. 

Shapes can also add simplicity or complexity. A few large shapes vs. numerous small shapes or squares and rectangles vs. angled and organic shapes are two examples of this. 

Art Exercise-

Look at the shapes in abstract artwork and how they were formed by shapes around them and think about why the artist may have wanted a certain shape.