Elements of Art - Shape vs Form

Everything we see around us is either a shape or a form. Shapes and forms help define the objects we encounter in space. While the terms “shape” and “form” are often used interchangeably in art, they are not the same thing. To fully understand these concepts in art, it’s important to grasp the key differences between shapes and forms. While they share some similarities, they also have distinct differences.

The main difference is that:

• Shapes are flat and exist in two dimensions—height and width. They are typically defined by lines.
• Forms, on the other hand, exist in three dimensions—height, width, and depth. Forms are often created through shading or perspective drawing.

Both shapes and forms have specific names, such as:

• A circle corresponds to a sphere.
• A square corresponds to a cube.
• A triangle corresponds to a cone or pyramid.
• A rectangle corresponds to a cylinder.

These shapes and forms can be found in both man-made objects and in nature.

There is an endless variety of shapes and forms, ranging from simple to complex. Complex shapes and forms are simply combinations of simpler ones.

All shapes and forms fall into two categories:

• Geometric shapes: These are shapes created by humans. We often see them in buildings, bridges, street signs and roads. These shapes are symmetrical and usually man-made, which distinguishes them from organic shapes.
• Organic shapes: These are shapes found in nature. They are often irregular and curvy, seen in plants, flowers, trees and similar natural forms. Organic shapes tend to be free-flowing and don’t always have specific names.

Most organic shapes and forms are irregular, found in nature and are curvy or flowing in design.