Lesson 04: Shape

Class# 4: Geometric and Non-geometric Shapes   Sept. 8-12, 2014

Materials needed: 

Watercolor paper

Drawing pencils

Eraser

Crayons or paint

Scissors

Shapes are a defined area and made by closing a contour line.  Shapes are two-dimensional which means they have length and width.  All shapes can be classified into two categories.  The first is geometric shapes. Geometric shapes are regular shapes, easy to recognize, usually man-made and usually have a name.  An example is a square, rectangle, or triangle.  Non-geometric shapes or organic shapes don’t follow rules, are not man-made, and are round and irregular.  Organic shapes are usually found in nature.  Some examples are leaves, flowers, clouds.

Here are some examples of artists that used shapes.

http://www.nano.gov/sites/default/files/slideshow/picasso_slide.jpg

http://emptyeasel.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/broadwayboogiewoogiebypietmondrian.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/7991577192_7f49d9548d.jpg

An artist named Henry Matisse, a 20^th century artist, was known for exploring the mixing of geometric and organic shapes.  He developed a style of art making called paper cut-outs.  Matisse would cut shapes out of colored paper and arrange the shapes to form pictures.

http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/henri-matisse-cut-outs

The assignment for this week is to create two drawings.  One drawing will focus on geometric shapes and the second drawing will focus on organic or non-geometric shapes.

Geometric Shapes:

1.     Imagine what it looks like under water along a reef.  What types of fish would you see?  What types of coral and other sea plants would you see?

http://www.wmofa.com/gallery/Matisse,_Henri/The_Beasts_of_the_Sea_1950.jpg

2.     Make your own colored paper by painting or coloring entire sheets of white paper one color.  Use the watercolor paper so the paper doesn’t curl.

3.     Using scissors cut the paper into different geometric shapes that you can use to recreate the underwater view of the reef.

4.     Then, arrange the cut-out shapes on a large colored piece of paper.  Move the pieces around, rotate them, and experiment with layering.

5.     When you are satisfied with the design, glue the shapes in place.

Organic Shapes:

1.     Repeat steps 1 and 2 for geometric shapes.

2.     Using scissors cut the paper into different organic/non-geometric shapes that you can use to recreate the underwater view of the reef.

3.     Then repeat steps 4 & 5 from the geometric shapes directions.

After you have done your geometric and non-geometric drawings, scan your work and upload it onto your Flickr page.  In the Flickr “Description” panel be sure to include which drawing is geometric and which drawing is non-geometri.  All drawings should be uploaded to your Flickr page by the beginning of the next week.  Any work that has not been uploaded by the evening of Sept 11th will be marked down a grade.

This concludes the fourth class for AR101.  If you have any questions regarding the material or assignment please email your instructor at ar101intructor@com.fsm