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Shape and form
Shape is generally used to describe the two-dimensional outline.
Form is generally used to describe a three-dimensional object.
Click on the images below to see a bigger version. (If you have Flash, click Magnify to see the detail - to remove the viewfinder just click Magnify again.)
Swing Low by David Annesley
Try to look at each artwork carefully and break it down into parts or ideas. The table below shows how you could break down David Annesley's piece into three parts and the descriptive words you could use:
| Look at the ... | Helpful descriptive words |
|---|---|
| yellow part at the top | Sharp, geometric, angular form, metal, straight, rectangular, static. |
| wavy blue part in the middle | Organic, flowing, blue, looks like water or a wave, fluid, intersecting. |
| yellow part at the bottom | Balancing, angular, corner, weight, heavy. |
Pencil Mask by Rebecca Horn
Here are some of the annotations you might include in your work journal if you were making notes about Rebecca Horn's 'Pencil Mask':
| Look at the ... | Helpful descriptive words |
|---|---|
| overall shape | Shaped like a mask, this can fit over your head. It looks like it has been created by using leather, metal and graphite pencils. |
| pencils | Sharp and dangerous looking. Spike-like yet functional. |
| use of the object | It's practical - a method for drawing in the form of a mask. It can draw many lines at once. The pencil lines drawn when the artist wears the mask echos the rhythmical movement of the wearer's head. |
Remember that when you annotate a picture you can always draw in arrows to highlight areas of importance or point out certain parts of an artwork
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