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The Pocket Universal Principles of Art
book

The Pocket Universal Principles of Art

by John A Parks
December 2017
Intermediate to advanced content levelIntermediate to advanced
208 pages
3h 39m
English
Rockport Publishers
Content preview from The Pocket Universal Principles of Art

081 Shape

A shape is a formation of edges that is perceived as an individual element. It is in our makeup to apply powers of recognition to shapes. We are prone to find shapes that have meaning to us, such as faces, figures, and animals. We are also sensitive to geometric formations and regularities.

Silhouette. The subject is presented as a flat monochrome shape on a clear background.

Abstraction. Compositions of shapes allow for paintings that explore the formal properties of shape and color or venture into various areas of expression.

Formal minimalism. Some minimalists have composed works with a single shape. The completeness of a single shape, the idea that it is simply a single thought, gives such work an intriguing authority.

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Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9781631595431