Roman Opalka, Detail, 1965-2002

Portia Munson, Nest, 1995

Klimt Judith, 1901

shape - a figure that appears to be flat, Pablo Ruiz Picasso, Picador 1959

1. Shapes

a. geometric shapes - circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, etc., Sycamore student, geometric shapes

b. biomorphic shapes / organic shapes - shapes that resemble or are derived from structures in nature (ameobas, leopard spots, tree branches, etc.) Piet Mondrian, Tableau, 1914

c. invented shapes - conform to no notions of order Jean Fautrier, Nude, 1943

d. everyday shapes

1. enlarged lines, letters, and numbers Khairat Al-Saleh, The Creation II, 1989

2. flattened three-dimensional objects Gorky, Self Portrait With Mother, 1927

e. unified areas as shapes gestalt

1. areas of the picture plane that share a similar attribute (color, texture, value, etc.) Jim Cogswell, The Letter N, 2001

2. figure-ground reversal - when the "negative space" can also be seen as a shape Maurits Cornelis Escher, Mosaic 2, 1957

a. physical figure-ground reversal - the figure and ground areas are equal Escher, Heaven and Hell

b. optical figure-ground reversal - physically more of one color than another - but impossible to differentiate figure from ground Ellsworth Kelly, Black and White, 1961

f. implied shapes - figures in unworked areas of the ground, or larger shapes implied by subtle variations in a pattern Bridgette Riley, Hidden Squares, 1961

2. Relating Shapes

a. overlapping - parts of the "farther" shapes obscured by parts of the "nearer" ones Milton Avery, Cello Player in Blue, 1944

b. abutting - be next to

c. interlocking - done by matching one curve to another, or by using intermediary implied shapes (strong shapes between two elements), etc. Hans Jaeger, Munch, 2001

d. mutual tension - 2 pieces placed closely enough for a gravitational pull to take effect, giving the area of attraction/separation a tension Odd Nerdrum, Iron Law, 1983

e. suggestion of a continuous whole: ie. heavy outline, group of similars, etc. Portia Munson, Pink Project, 1994

3. Edges

a. hard edged - precise values and strong value contrasts render shapes clearly distinct from surroundings Ellsworth Kelly, Red Curve, 1999

b. soft edged - the boundaries between shapes and surrounding areas are blurred