Expressive Properties Expressive Properties ofof

ShapeShape

Communicating Ideas through Communicating Ideas through Shape with AssociationsShape with Associations

An important thing to remember is An important thing to remember is that artists look for associations they that artists look for associations they can make with shapes in order to can make with shapes in order to communicate their ideas. communicate their ideas.

The examples on the pages of this The examples on the pages of this slide presentation are slide presentation are only a fewonly a few examples to help you get a feel for examples to help you get a feel for how artists do this. how artists do this.

CirclesCircles Never EndingNever Ending - A circle doe not have - A circle doe not have

a beginning or an end. This inherent a beginning or an end. This inherent property can be used to symbolize property can be used to symbolize eternal, endless, immortality, eternal, endless, immortality, ageless, etc.ageless, etc.

Full Full - Things such as balloons or - Things such as balloons or pillows become rounded as they are pillows become rounded as they are filled. Thus a circle can suggest filled. Thus a circle can suggest complete, whole, opulent, etc.complete, whole, opulent, etc.

PerfectPerfect – In a true circle the edge or – In a true circle the edge or line is always equidistant from the line is always equidistant from the exact center. This quality can exact center. This quality can represent complete, whole, exact, represent complete, whole, exact, flawless, immaculate, absolute, etc.flawless, immaculate, absolute, etc.

SoftSoft – A circle is made up of a curving – A circle is made up of a curving line. This quality might represent line. This quality might represent smooth, graceful, feminine, comfort, smooth, graceful, feminine, comfort, etc.etc.

BalanceBalance – An ellipse – An ellipse has much the same has much the same qualities as a circle. qualities as a circle. However, because However, because its shape is longer its shape is longer and more and more symmetrical, it may symmetrical, it may communicate communicate equilibrium, equilibrium, stability, symmetry, stability, symmetry, etc.etc.

EllipseEllipse

HarmonyHarmony – An ellipse – An ellipse has a long and short axis. has a long and short axis. Its shape appears Its shape appears harmonious. It can harmonious. It can suggest accord, grace, suggest accord, grace, unison, elegance, etc.unison, elegance, etc.

OvalOval

Egg Egg – An oval is similar – An oval is similar to an ellipse, but it looks to an ellipse, but it looks more like an egg (ovum) more like an egg (ovum) and can suggest such and can suggest such things as nature, life, things as nature, life, mortality, birth, inherent, mortality, birth, inherent, etc.etc.

HopeHope – During the – During the Renaissance the oval Renaissance the oval was the symbol for hope was the symbol for hope in Jesus Christ and the in Jesus Christ and the resurrection. It can resurrection. It can suggest peace, solace, suggest peace, solace, comfort, etc.comfort, etc.

Concentric CirclesConcentric Circles TargetTarget – Concentric circles – Concentric circles

are like targets and can are like targets and can suggest such things as aim, suggest such things as aim, focus, concentrate, focus, concentrate, condense, surround, condense, surround, enclose, encircle, entrance, enclose, encircle, entrance, hypnotize, etc.hypnotize, etc.

Tunnel Tunnel – Concentric circles – Concentric circles sometimes suggest lines of sometimes suggest lines of a tunnel or tube. (Some a tunnel or tube. (Some people get a feeling of people get a feeling of falling into a pit or hole.)falling into a pit or hole.)

HypnoticHypnotic – They can – They can suggest restriction, suggest restriction, confinement, confinement, claustrophobia, claustrophobia, entombment, tension, entombment, tension, stress, nightmare, etc.stress, nightmare, etc.

MotionMotion – They can appear – They can appear to rotate, spin, swirl, reel or to rotate, spin, swirl, reel or revolve and can portray a revolve and can portray a sense of being dizzy, light-sense of being dizzy, light-headed, etc.headed, etc.

Star or SunburstStar or Sunburst SunSun – A sun or star radiating – A sun or star radiating

from a center can remind us from a center can remind us of the rays of the sun and of the rays of the sun and can suggest radiant energy, can suggest radiant energy, warm, sunny, mild, warm, sunny, mild, summery, enthusiastic, summery, enthusiastic, explosion, surprise, explosion, surprise, fireworks, etc.fireworks, etc.

FlowerFlower – The rays of a – The rays of a sunburst radiate from the sunburst radiate from the center and are like the center and are like the petals of a flower. They can petals of a flower. They can suggest organic growth of suggest organic growth of such things as a flower, such things as a flower, blossom, or bouquet.blossom, or bouquet.

ExplosionExplosion – Irregular shapes – Irregular shapes can sometimes appear like can sometimes appear like fireworks, a flare, a fire, etc.fireworks, a flare, a fire, etc.

AmorphousAmorphous

Weak Weak – Things such as jelly and – Things such as jelly and amoebas have amorphous, amoebas have amorphous, undefined or formless shapes. undefined or formless shapes. Amorphous shapes can suggest Amorphous shapes can suggest things such as feeble, flimsy, things such as feeble, flimsy, faint, etc.faint, etc.

Liquid Liquid – Paint or ink spills – Paint or ink spills typically have amorphous shapes typically have amorphous shapes and can suggest accident, stain, and can suggest accident, stain, spill, runny, flood, etc.spill, runny, flood, etc.

A GhostA Ghost – Ghosts or apparitions – Ghosts or apparitions are typically portrayed as having are typically portrayed as having amorphous or formless shapes. amorphous or formless shapes. Phantoms, spirits, and spooks Phantoms, spirits, and spooks can have amorphous shapes. can have amorphous shapes. They can appear to flow, run They can appear to flow, run wiggle, move creep , quiver, etc.wiggle, move creep , quiver, etc.

ComplexComplex

NaturalNatural – Many natural – Many natural objects have complex objects have complex shapes. They can shapes. They can suggest reality, suggest reality, actuality, fact, not a actuality, fact, not a dream, verity, actual dream, verity, actual existence, etc.existence, etc.

ComplicatedComplicated – Complex – Complex shapes are made of shapes are made of many smaller shapes many smaller shapes and can look difficult, and can look difficult, hard to manufacture, hard to manufacture, elaborate, intricate, etc.elaborate, intricate, etc.

IrregularIrregular

RaggedRagged – Frayed fabric, – Frayed fabric, broken glass, or ripped broken glass, or ripped paper can have an paper can have an irregular edge. Shapes irregular edge. Shapes with irregular edges or with irregular edges or outlines can suggest outlines can suggest warn, broken, cracked, warn, broken, cracked, ripped, decayed, ripped, decayed, deteriorated, etc.deteriorated, etc.

DelicateDelicate – They might – They might also have the also have the appearance of appearance of complexity, perplexity, complexity, perplexity, intricate, etc.intricate, etc.

SquaresSquares Honest Honest – The phrase – The phrase “square deal”“square deal” is used to is used to mean an honest deal; mean an honest deal; thus a square can thus a square can suggest being correct, suggest being correct, having integrity, etc.having integrity, etc.

StrongStrong – A square or – A square or rectangle is a common rectangle is a common shape for buildings; thus shape for buildings; thus a square can suggest a square can suggest solidity, security, solidity, security, stability, firmness, etc.stability, firmness, etc.

Confinement Confinement – Fences – Fences often enclose a square or often enclose a square or rectangular area; thus a rectangular area; thus a square can suggest square can suggest being confined, having being confined, having limits, etc.limits, etc.

EarthEarth – The square was a – The square was a symbol for the earth symbol for the earth during the Renaissance.during the Renaissance.

RectangleRectangle

DirectionDirection – A rectangle is longer than a – A rectangle is longer than a square and its axis is more apparent. square and its axis is more apparent. Because of its shape the axis can show Because of its shape the axis can show direction or movement.direction or movement.

OpeningOpening – A rectangle is the shape for – A rectangle is the shape for many openings such as a door or many openings such as a door or window. It can suggest a portal, entry, or window. It can suggest a portal, entry, or entrance.entrance.

VerticalVertical SupportSupport – Vertical shapes are – Vertical shapes are

associated with strength and associated with strength and support because columns are support because columns are used to hold up buildings. They used to hold up buildings. They can suggest strength, balance, can suggest strength, balance, etc.etc.

ClassicClassic – When vertical shapes – When vertical shapes are associated with Greek are associated with Greek buildings having columns and buildings having columns and pediments, such as the pediments, such as the Parthenon, they can suggest Parthenon, they can suggest dignity, stateliness, stillness, dignity, stateliness, stillness, noiseless, timeless, ageless, noiseless, timeless, ageless, resistance to change, classic etc.resistance to change, classic etc.

Upright Upright – Because people stand – Because people stand upright, vertical shapes are upright, vertical shapes are associated with life, uprightness, associated with life, uprightness, integrity, firmness, etc.integrity, firmness, etc.

HorizontalHorizontal

RestRest – Horizontal shapes may be – Horizontal shapes may be associated with rest, since humans sleep associated with rest, since humans sleep lying down. It can also suggest death, as a lying down. It can also suggest death, as a final rest.final rest.

SilenceSilence – Horizontal shapes may be – Horizontal shapes may be associated with, rest, sleep, quietness, associated with, rest, sleep, quietness, serenity, peace, etc.serenity, peace, etc.

SpeedSpeed – With appropriate visual cues such – With appropriate visual cues such as automobiles or arrows, horizontal as automobiles or arrows, horizontal shapes can suggest speed, motion, shapes can suggest speed, motion, swiftness, etc.swiftness, etc.

DiagonalDiagonal

ActionAction – Diagonal – Diagonal shapes can be shapes can be associated with motion associated with motion and action, because and action, because things such as running things such as running people, falling trees, people, falling trees, and lightning are on an and lightning are on an angle when they are in angle when they are in motion.motion.

InstabilityInstability – Diagonal – Diagonal shapes can be shapes can be associated with associated with imbalance, misfortune, imbalance, misfortune, chaos, agitation, etc.chaos, agitation, etc.

OrderOrder

OrderOrder – Shapes – Shapes arranged in some arranged in some logical order can logical order can suggest suggest movement, order, movement, order, logic, etc.logic, etc.

TrianglesTriangles

StrengthStrength – A triangle resting – A triangle resting on its base suggests great on its base suggests great stability because a triangle stability because a triangle in this position would be in this position would be difficult to overturn.difficult to overturn.

TimelessnessTimelessness – a triangle is – a triangle is the shape of the pyramids the shape of the pyramids and can suggest things such and can suggest things such as timeless, ageless, as timeless, ageless, unchanging, permanent.unchanging, permanent.

Can you count the number of triangles?

Inverted TriangleInverted Triangle

UnstableUnstable – A triangle sitting on one – A triangle sitting on one point is very unstable and is likely to point is very unstable and is likely to fall over. It can suggest instability, fall over. It can suggest instability, weakness, dread, imbalance, fear, weakness, dread, imbalance, fear, caution.caution.

JaggedJagged

EnergyEnergy – Jagged – Jagged shapes look like shapes look like electricity and can electricity and can suggest energy, suggest energy, electricity.electricity.

AnxietyAnxiety – These – These kinds of shapes can kinds of shapes can be used to portray be used to portray anxiety, tension, anxiety, tension, fear, dread, fear, dread, suspense.suspense.

PointedPointed

KnifeKnife – Long, pointed – Long, pointed triangles – whether triangles – whether straight or curved – straight or curved – can remind us of can remind us of things such as knives, things such as knives, needles, spears or needles, spears or broken glass. They broken glass. They can suggest pain, can suggest pain, hurt, harm, danger, hurt, harm, danger, abuse, damage, abuse, damage, destruction, etc.destruction, etc.

Dotted LineDotted Line InvisibleInvisible – A shape with – A shape with

a dotted or broken line a dotted or broken line is often used to show a is often used to show a viewer something that viewer something that others may not be able others may not be able to see. In these kinds of to see. In these kinds of situations a dotted line situations a dotted line can suggest such can suggest such things as ethereal, not things as ethereal, not seen, airy, weightless, seen, airy, weightless, breezy, immaterial, breezy, immaterial, intangible.intangible.

ImpliedImplied MysteriousMysterious – Implied – Implied

shapes are hidden and shapes are hidden and appear as if there is a appear as if there is a secret image or a secret secret image or a secret message. In these kinds message. In these kinds of situations implied of situations implied shapes can suggest shapes can suggest such things as mystery, such things as mystery, magic, supernatural, magic, supernatural, mystical, secret, mystical, secret, wizardry, psychic, wizardry, psychic, indefinable, hidden, indefinable, hidden, evil, spiritual, airy, or evil, spiritual, airy, or without substance.without substance.

Expressive Properties of ShapeExpressive Properties of Shape

Can you think of other shapes that Can you think of other shapes that would be expressive to other people would be expressive to other people through a general association?through a general association?

QuestionsQuestions

1.1. Define shape. Define shape. 2.2. What is the difference between a What is the difference between a

geometric and an organic shape? Give geometric and an organic shape? Give and example of both.and example of both.

3.3. What is the difference between a What is the difference between a biomorphic and amorphic shape? Give biomorphic and amorphic shape? Give and example of both.and example of both.

4.4. What are positive and negative shapes?What are positive and negative shapes?5.5. List six qualities of shapes.List six qualities of shapes.