ShapeShape
Artists may use simple geometric shapes such as circles, triangles or squares, or complex geometric shapes such as hexagons or pentagons. They may also use organic shapes from nature like leaves or flowers, or irregular shapes.
Similar shapes can work in harmony to create a calm effect, or contrasting shapes can be used to make a more challenging composition.
In this painting by David McCracken called Back Road Home the artists has created a landscape from simple shapes.
Back Road Home © David McCracken
Northern Adventure by Paul Nash is a surrealist painting. It is a view from the artist's flat in London which overlooked St. Pancras Station. The artists has mixed angular and organic shapes to create a strange landscape.
Northern Adventure by Paul Nash © TATE London.
Still Life with Oranges by William Littlejohn is a still-life painting.
The artists has painted a group of real objects in an interesting way. The objects seem to be grouped together in front of a window. A crescent moon floats into the picture. The wedges of orange on the right echo its shape. The household objects, the jugs and vases, are reduced to very simple, basic shapes.
Still Life with Oranges by William Littlejohn © William Littlejohn
