Shape is defined as a two-dimensional area or mass delimited by lines or color/texture contrasts. There are geometric shapes with mathematical order and organic shapes with irregular profiles. Shapes can be open without a fully enclosed line or closed with a well-defined outline. Positive shapes are the main figures, while negative shapes are the empty spaces around them. Key parts of a shape include the outline/contour enclosing it, the silhouette if filled with solid color, and the infill lines/colors/textures within. Shapes can be used to suggest depth and distance through varying size, overlapping, and using warm/cool colors.

1. BASIC
ELEMENTS
OF VISUAL
LANGUAGE

2. THE SHAPE

3. 1.Definition

4. Shape is a two-dimension
(length and width) area or
mass which defines objects
in space. These objects
can be defined by colour
contrast, by different
textures or they can be
delimited by contour lines.
In this last case shape is
the area of a surface
within a closed line.

5. 2.Types of
shapes

6. GEOMETRIC
AND ORGANIC
•Geometric: shapes
which parts follow a
mathematical order,
law or pattern.
They can transmit
strong visual
sensations of order
and stability.
•Organic: shapes that
have irregular profile.
They give a visual
sensation of more
dynamism than
geometric forms.

7. OPEN AND CLOSED
SHAPES
•Open shapes: shapes
that are not completely
enclosed by a line.
Usually the content of
these shapes comes out
to get mixed with other
elements or the
background.
•Closed shapes: shapes
that are completely
enclosed by a line or
unbroken contour.
The outline is generally
well defined.

8. POSITIVE AND
NEGATIVE SHAPES
•Positive shapes: the
objects or figure on
which the viewer
focuses.
•Negative shapes:
the empty space
(or the space filled
with other imagery)
left over in
the art work

9. Parts of a
shape

10. OUTLINE
It is the line enclosing
the shape of an object
in a drawing or image.
In art it is sometimes
called CONTOUR.

11. SILHOUETTE
It is a shape filled up
with a solid colour, just
like a shadow.

12. INFILL
The inner part of a
shape. It is usually
formed by lines, dots,
colours and textures.

13. 4.shape´s uses
To create the sensation of
tridimensional space by
suggesting visual sensation of
distance and closeness

14. Changing
shape´s size
The increase or
decrease of the size
of one shape to
another, simulates a
spatial distance
between them.

15. Overlapping
shapes
When a shape
overlaps partially to
another it seems to
be forward.

16. Contrasting
coloured shapes
Warm colors tend to
come closer and cold
colors seem more
distant in space.

17. Exercises

19. OUTLINE
SILHOUETTE INFILL

20. OUTLINE
SILHOUETTE
INFILL