Shape and Form

Shape-defined in the book as two-dimensional areas. The external form or appearance characteristic of someone or something; the outline of an area or figure. A shape that only has two dimensions (such as width and height) and no thickness.

High relief- a work is considered a high relief if at least half of the figures’ natural spatial depth projects forward from the background.

Low relief- the figures exist on nearly the same plane as the background, almost as in a drawing.

Frontal- a type of three-dimensional art that is designed principally to be seen from the front only.

Full Round- a type of three-dimensional art that is freestanding and designed to be seen from all sides.

Walk Through- an even fuller degree of three-dimensional art that becomes part of the environment through which we move.

Open Form- in sculpture, a volume broken by projections and/or voids.

Closed Form- in sculpture, a volume unbroken by no projections and/or voids.

Negative Space/Form- referring to unfilled but delineated areas

Positive Space/From- referring to being occupied by some material.