FORM, SHAPE AND SPACE

Form and shape are areas which define objects in space. Form and shape imply space; indeed
they cannot exist without space.
There are various ways to categorize form and shape. Form and shape can be thought of as two
dimensional or three dimensional. Two dimensional form has width
and height. It can also create the illusion of three dimension objects.
Three dimensional shape has depth as well as width and height.

Form and shape can also be described as organic or geometric.

Organic forms such as these snow-covered stones typically are
irregular in outline, and often asymmetrical. Organic forms are most
often thought of as naturally occurring.
Geometric forms are those which correspond to named regular
shapes, such as squares, rectangles, circles, cubes, spheres, cones, and
other regular forms. Architecture, such as this example by Frank Lloyd
Wright, is usually composed of geometric forms. These forms are most
often thought of as constructed or made.

However, not all made objects are geometric. Many designed forms have
irregular contours. Although this kimono is geometric in its construction,
the surface design is organic in form.

Not all naturally occurring

objects are organic; snowflakes
and soap bubbles are among
many geometric forms found in
nature.

There are some other terms commonly used to describe form and shape in composition; these have to
do with what kind of representations the forms have. If we can recognize every day objects and
environments, we refer to the images as being realistic, or naturalistic. However, if the images are
difficult or impossible to identify in terms of our normal, daily visual experience, we may refer to the
images as abstract.
There are several kinds of abstract images. Generally, abstractions are “abstracted” or derived
from realistic images – perhaps even distorted, but perhaps in such a way that the source is not
immediately apparent. An example of this would be one of Georgia O’keefe’s paintings of a detail
from a flower. This kind of abstraction in art is sometimes referred to as an objective image – that is, it
is derived from an actual object. On the other hand, some abstract art images are based on a pure study
of form, line, and color, and do not refer to any real world object. Such art works are sometimes
referred to as non-objective images.
Charicature is a special instance of abstraction, in which realistic images are distorted to make
a statement about the people, places, or objects portrayed. This is probably the kind of abstraction we
are most familiar with, as it is constantly presented to us via all sorts of popular media. A century ago,
there was really nothing equivalent to our modern cartoons.
 Our perception of shape and form are affected by several factors. The position or viewpoint
from which we see an object will emphasize or obscure certain features, and therefore affect the
impression it makes. The character of the space around the object can distract, focus, or alter our
impression. A cluttered background tends to diminish the importance of the object, while a plain
background draws attention to it.
The character and source of light also changes the perceived character of the object. Lighting in
a photographic portrait, for example, can make the subject look older, younger, dramatic, or rather
abstract.

VOCABULARY:

shape фігура, форма, модель

form форма
space простір
to define визначати
two dimensional [d(a)ıʹmenʃ(ə)nəl] двовимірний
three dimensional тривимірний
symmetrical симетричний
to categorize класифікувати
width [wıdθ] ширина
height [haıt] висота
depth [depθ] глибина
outline абрис, контур
to correspond відповідати чомусь
square квадрат
triangle [ʹtraɪæŋgl] трикутник
rectangle [ʹrektæŋgl] прямокутник
circle коло
sphere куля
cone конус
irregular contour ['kontuə(r)] неправильний контур
composition композиція
derived похідний
distorted викривлений
apparent явний, очевидний
caricature ['kærɪkətʃυə] карикатура
convention умовність
perception сприйняття
 viewpoint точка зору
to emphasize наголошувати
to obscure [əb'skjυə] приховувати
mannequin ['mænɪkɪn] манекен
to distract відволікати
to focus фокусувати, акцентувати
to alter [ʹɔ:ltə] змінювати
value яскравість, ясність
hue [hju:] відтінок
gradation послідовність, чергування
placement of objects розташування об’єктів
reversal інверсія, перестановка
foreground передній план
background задній план, тло, фон
source of light джерело світла

1. Answer the questions:

1. What is the main function of form and space?

2. How can we categorize form and shape?
3. What is the difference between organic and geometric shape and form?
4. What is the difference between realistic and abstract image?
5. What is an objective image?
6. What is non-objective image?
7. Why do we call caricature a special instance of abstraction?
8. What can affect our perception of shape and form?

2. Find English equivalents to the following expressions:

Form and shape imply space; to exist without space; to create the illusion of three dimension objects;
irregular in outline; naturally occurring; constructed or made forms; the surface design; irregular
contours; to recognize everyday objects; to identify in terms of visual experience; derived from
realistic images; immediately apparent; detail from a flower; to refer to any real world object; via all
sorts of popular media; equivalent to modern cartoons; certain features; the character and source of
light.

3. Find Ukrainian equivalents to the following expressions:

Класифікувати форми і фігури; асиметричні і симетричні лінії; правильні форми; складатись з
геометричних фігур; геометричний за конструкцією; органічний за формою; реалістичний чи
натуралістичний об’єкт; візуальний досвід; особливий приклад абстракції; бути знайомим з
чимось; впливати на враження; привертати увагу до об’єкта; характер сприйняття об’єкта.

4. Match the words from the right and left columns:

to define space
 to imply form and shape
to categorize design
irregular experience
surface objects
visual images
abstract cartoons
modern contours
instance background
plain of abstraction

5. Say whether the statement is true or false, if the statement is false explain why:
1. Space implies form and shape.
2. Forms and shapes can exist without space.
3. Two dimensional form has width and height.
4. Three dimensional shape has depth as well as width and height.
5. Organic forms typically are regular in outline, and often symmetrical.
6. Geometric forms are those which correspond to named regular shapes.
7. All naturally occurring objects are organic
8. If we can recognize every day objects and environments, we refer to the images as being
naturalistic.
9. If the images are difficult or impossible to identify in terms of our normal, daily visual experience,
we may refer to the images as realistic.
10. Charicature is a special instance of abstraction.
11. Our perception of shape and form are affected by several factors.
12. A cluttered background tends to diminish the importance of the object.

6. Complete the sentences:

1. Form and shape can be _______________.

2. Two dimensional form has _______________.
3. Form and shape cannot exist without _______________.
4. _______________ are most often thought of as naturally occurring.
5. _______________ is derived from the object which exists in real world.
6. Architectural creations are usually composed of _______________.
7. _______________ is based on a pure study of form, line, and color, and does not refer to any real
world object.
8. In _______________ realistic images are distorted to make a statement about the people, places, or
objects portrayed.
9. Three dimensional shape has _______________.
10. Snowflakes are examples of _______________ found in nature.

7. Match the following words with their definitions:

cone perfectly round geometrical object in three-dimensional space

sphere a simple shape consisting of those points in a plane which are
equidistant from a given point called the centre
 circle one of the basic shapes of geometry: a polygon with three corners and
three sides which are line segments.
rectangle any quadrilateral with four right angles
square a three-dimensional geometric shape that tapers smoothly from a flat
base to a point called the apex
triangle is a polygon with four equal sides and angles
Notes: equidistant [i:kwi'dɪstənt] – рівновіддалений; polygon ['pɒlɪgɒn] – багатокутник;
quadrilateral [kwodri'lætərəl] – чотирикутник; to taper[teıpə] – звужуватись; side – сторона; angle
– кут

8. Read and translate the text, do a task bellow:

Two Dimensional Form
Two dimensional form is the foundation of pictorial organization or composition in painting,
photography, and many other media. It is created in a number of ways. It can be defined by line. Line,
either explicit or implied, provides the contour of forms.
Value (the relative lightness or darkness of a color) can also define form. Strong contrasts in
value within a composition may define the boundaries of forms. Gradations of value, or shading, can
also create the illusion of contour and volume.
In the same way, hue contrasts and gradations can also define forms. Form may also be defined
by change in texture, even when hue and value remain essentially consistent.
Form in relation to positive and negative space. Forms and shapes can be thought of as
positive or negative. In a two dimensional composition, the objects constitute the positive forms, while
the background is the negative space. For beginning art and design students, effective use of negative
space is often an especially important concept to be mastered. The effective placement of objects in
relation to the surrounding negative space is essential for success in composition.
Some artists play with the reversal of positive and negative space to create complex illusions.
The prints of M.C. Eascer often feature interlocking images that play with our perception of what is
foreground and what is background. Other artists take these illusions of positive and negative images
to even greater lengths, hiding images within images. Perception of form and shape are conditioned by
our “instinct” to impute meaning and order to visual data. When we look at an image and form an
impression, there is a tendency to make conclusion about its meaning, and then ignore other possible
solutions. This may make it hard to see the other images. Training the eye to keep on looking beyond
first impressions is a crucial step in developing true visual literacy.

Match English and Ukrainian equivalents:

change in texture успіх в композиції

contrasts in value перші враження
boundaries of forms ефективне розташування об’єктів
gradation послідовність, чергування
success in composition контур форми
effective placement of objects контраст яскравості
contour of forms ховати образ в образі
first impressions зміна текстури
to hide images within images по відношенню до оточення
in relation to the surrounding межі форми
 perception of form and shape ефективне використання
effective use складні ілюзії
complex illusions сприйняття форм та фігур

9. Read and translate the text filling in the gaps using the words from the table:
THREE DIMENSIONAL FORM

architecture, basis, fashion, meaning, objects

Three dimensional shape and space is the _______________ of architecture and most designed
objects. There are added design considerations in that the object will be experienced from more than
one side.
In the case of _______________ , the design of the shape is almost secondary to the design of
the space it contains, since the end use mainly involves the space which will be occupied.
In sculpture, too, the space defined by the shape of the sculpture may be an important aspect of
the total design.
Other designed _______________ such as furniture, tools, and appliances must be conceived in
relation to function and, often, the contours of the human body that will use the object.
_______________ designers face special problems of engineering and spatial thinking, in that the
problem is to translate a two dimensional material (cloth) into a three dimensional form (body-shaped
garment) – a unique and complex problem in topographical engineering.
Three dimensional shape has some specific _______________ . For example, rectilinear shapes
suggest stability. Angular shapes placed diagonally in relation to gravity suggest instability. Shapes
that exhibit softly curving surfaces suggest quiet, comfort, and sensuality.

10. Translate into English:

Різноманітні форми, як і колір, здійснюють на нас психологічний вплив. Дизайнер може
використовувати певні якості форми, щоб викликати у аудиторії відповідні емоції.
Кола найчастіше асоціюються з жіночим началом: теплота, затишок, чуттєвість, любов.
Крім того, кола часто застосовуються для виразу ідеї спільності, цілісності, руху і безпеки.
Трикутники вважаються виразом чоловічого начала: сили, агресії і динаміки.
З прямокутниками (зокрема квадратами) теж асоціюються певні уявлення: потужність і
ґрунтовність. Прямокутні форми можуть викликати у спостерігача відчуття впорядкованості і
безпеки.
Для досягнення максимального ефекту дизайнер повинен вдало комбінувати форми.
Нарівні з світлом, тінню і формою простір також володіє цікавими психологічними
аспектами, якими художники з давніх часів користувалися для емоційної дії на аудиторію.
Правильне використання простору у дизайні дозволяє досягти відразу декількох цілей:
привернути увагу до потрібного місця, вдало розмістити потрібну інформацію. Це полегшує
сприйняття дизайнерського твору.