Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you today? Hope you're feeling great.

My name's Ms. Afsal, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

I'm feeling excited about that because I love teaching art and also because today, we're going to be exploring shape and form, which I think are really interesting elements of art.

Our lesson title is "The Elements of Art: Shape and Form." This lesson comes from the unit of work, The Elements of Art.

Yes, shape and form are pretty elemental when it comes to creating artworks, and we're gonna be exploring how to create different shapes and forms using paper.

I hope you feel excited about this lesson.

I certainly am, and if you're ready, we'll begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can turn flat shapes into three-dimensional forms by folding, cutting, and building a paper sculpture.

Sounds fun.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them.

Our words are shape and form.

What do these words mean? Shape is a two-dimensional, flat form defined by a line around the outer edge, limited to height and width.

Form is a three-dimensional element that has height, width, and depth, either real or perceived.

These are our keywords, shape and form.

Let's look out for them.

Let's listen out for them.

They'll certainly be coming up in our lesson today.

Our lesson is called "The Elements of Art: Shape and Form," and it consists of two learning cycles.

First of all, we've got identifying shape and form, and then we are really getting practical.

We'll be building a sculpture with paper.

Let's begin with identifying shape and form.

These students are discussing what they already know about shape and form.

What are the key things that you recall about shape and form? Pause the video, and tell someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

You might have said something like this.

Shape is 2D or flat, whereas form is 3D or appears to be 3D.

There are a variety of shapes including geometric and organic shapes.

Shape refers to the outline or contours of a visual element.

So here we have a shape, circular shape, and form is the actual or perceived mass of an object.

So here we can see a perceived form, a shaded illustration of a sphere, and here we can see an actual form, a 3D moulded clay sphere.

Looks wonderful.

The illusion of form can be created through drawing techniques such as tonal shading, which is referred to as perceived form, and we can see the perceived form of this pair on our screen achieved through tonal shading.

Three-dimensional objects have actual form.

They have height, width, and depth.

Depth is how far an object appears to extend into space.

Really interesting looking paper sculpture there.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Match these labels to the correct images.

So we have a shape, a perceived form, and an actual form.

Pause the video while you decide which is which.

Let's take a look at the answers.

So we've got the shape.

Here's the shape, the two-dimensional outline of the pair.

Here we have the perceived form, a drawing of the pair where we've got the tonal shading giving us that perceived form.

And here is the actual form of the three-dimensional pair.

Well done if you match the labels to the images in this way.

Shape can be present in a wide variety of artworks in many different mediums. Have you seen any artwork that uses shape in a thoughtful or interesting way? Pause the video, and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

We can use shape in our work to create interesting compositions.

And there are a number of artists who've used shape in quite interesting ways.

Let's find out about some of them.

Liaqat Rasul uses collage and printmaking to layer a variety of shapes in creative ways.

Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian uses geometric shapes in her mosaics to reflect the spiritual significance of pattern in Islamic art.

Some artists use shape in flat designs, while others turn shapes into 3D forms to create sculptures.

Sculptures are of 3D form and can be made from a variety of interesting materials.

Pause the video and share with someone your impression of the sculpture that you can see on the screen that the students are looking at.

Thanks for sharing your impressions.

What other similarities and differences between these two artworks? So we have a drawing of a flower and a floating sculpture.

Pause the video, and share with someone similarities and differences between these two artworks.

Okay, so what answers did you come up with? I wonder if you noticed that the drawing uses tone to show shape through shades of grey.

The sculpture is white, but light and shadow create different tones, which highlight the form.

So we can see interesting use of tone in each of these artworks.

And both use simplified curved organic shapes.

The relief is a type of sculpture where the shapes are raised from a flat surface, so we can see a card relief sculpture on the left, and a plaster cast relief of a shell.

This creates an artwork that has depth and form, but are still attached to a background.

I'd like you to compare and discuss the shapes in these two relief 3D artworks.

Well, there's a lot to take in there.

I wonder, can you share with someone how are the shapes different? Pause the video while you do this.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

And which artwork would you describe as angular, and which is organic? Pause video while you share about this.

Thanks for sharing your responses.

I would say the artwork on the left has much more angular geometric shapes, and the artwork on the right has more organic natural looking shapes.

I wonder if you thought the same.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of these artworks are examples of relief sculpture? Pause the video while you decide and look at artworks A, B, and C.

Which are examples of relief sculpture? Well done, if you selected examples B and C.

These are examples of relief sculpture when the sculpture is raised from the background.

And now let's consider how can we turn a paper shape into a 3D form? Pause the video, and share with someone any ideas you have about this.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Paper is lightweight and moldable, making it perfect for creating shapes and form.

Paper is easy to fold, cut, and manipulate, popular with artists due to its versatility and creative potential.

These artists, designers, and craftspeople use paper techniques imaginatively to turn 2D shapes into 3D forms. Li Hongbo stacks paper to create flexible sculptures that stretch, twist, and move.

Zoe Bradley folds, cuts, and curls paper into fashion pieces and large installations.

Andy Singleton uses paper craft to make large flowing sculptures inspired by nature, often used in window displays, interiors, and public art.

And Su Blackwell creates intricate paper sculptures that emerge from books.

So many artists, designers, and craftspeople enjoy working with paper to turn 2D shapes into 3D forms. Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Shapes have two dimensions, height and width.

Forms exist in three dimensions, height, width, and depth, real or perceived.

Pause the video, and decide if this is true or false.

Well done, if you selected true, and now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause the video while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Shapes are usually defined by lines, which show height and width.

Forms have height and width, but also a sense of depth, whether real or implied.

Paper is versatile.

There are many ways that you can turn a flat sheet of paper into a 3D form.

These might include cutting, folding, twisting, or curling.

Pause video, and share with someone which of these four methods have you tried in working with paper? Thanks for sharing your experiences.

What happens to a flat shape like a spiral when you cut it out of paper? Pause the video, and share with someone.

This is what happens.

This shape turns into a 3D form that occupies space.

How many different ways can you find to fold the paper? Pause the video, and have a go finding all the different ways you can to fold paper.

All right, that's an interesting way of folding.

Here's Sam.

"I experimented with folding triangles." Love that.

Super creative.

What happens when you twist paper? Pause the video, and have a go.

Can you create different shapes and forms? All right, that's looking interesting.

Izzy says, "I found that the tighter I twisted the paper, the more I could shape it." Can you create a curl with paper? Hold the scissors so the blades are open, and then gently run one blade along the edge of the paper strip to curl.

Pause the video while you have a go at creating a curl with paper.

How did you get on with that? Here's Andeep.

"I found this technique really easy after a few tries.

I just had to be careful my scissors weren't too sharp." Very important safety point there.

Let's check for understanding.

Which of these is not an example of a paper 3D form, A, B, or C? Pause the video while you decide.

Well done, if you selected C.

That is two-dimensional.

It's not a 3D form.

And now it's time For your first task.

I'd like you to use paper techniques in imaginative ways to explore shape and form.

You could draw and cut a flat paper spiral, and pull it up into a 3D coil.

You could fold a flat strip into a zigzag or shape of choice.

Twist or curl strips of paper.

Create a new method to transform a shape into a 3D form.

And then once you've done that, I'd like you to discuss and reflect.

Which paper technique worked best for you, and which technique surprised you? Pause here while you have a go at this two-stage task.

Okay, it's great to be back with you.

How did you get on using paper techniques in imaginative ways to explore shape and form? Your work may have looked like this.

So interesting.

Such a variety of things happening on that screen there.

Here's Alex.

"Seeing the work of artists, designers, and craftspeople really inspired me.

I used concertina folding like in Zoe Bradley's "On/off" paper dress." And here's Lucas.

"I could do a lot with the spiral shapes.

I was surprised at how simply cutting paper can turn it into a form that takes up space." And Alex.

"All the techniques worked well, but I was surprised how many different forms you can make just by folding paper." And now we're onto our next learning cycle, building a sculpture with paper.

We can use flat paper to create sculptural forms. There are many techniques that artists use to connect and build using paper.

Can you think of ways to connect or join paper pieces? Pause the video, and share.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Cutting slits in paper can be a way of connecting individual shapes to create forms. This joining technique is called slotting.

Be careful to only cut halfway, and then slot the shapes together at right angles to interlock the two pieces.

I find this is a very satisfying way of joining paper together.

Slotting creates stability when building a paper sculpture without using glue or tape.

So remember, cut just up to halfway, and then slot the two pieces together at right angles to interlock the pieces.

Stacking involves layering pieces of paper on top of each other to create relief or sculptural forms. In this example of a stacked relief, the form is built up gradually, adding texture and visual interest.

Stacking adds strength and creates depth.

Using glue between layers create strength.

And layers can be placed directly on top of one another or at an angle.

The flange technique can be used to create forms that can stand independently.

Tabs are added to the edge of the paper form to help it stand or to join separate forms together.

To create a flange, cut tabs along the edges of your paper.

Fold the tabs ready to be glued and attached to a surface.

Using tape can also be useful to secure paper shapes, such as cylinders.

And masking tape is a good option if you want to reposition the shapes.

Check for understanding.

Which of these is not a joining technique used in paper sculpture? Is it A, flange, B, slotting, C, stacking or, D, shading? Pause the video while you decide which of these is not a joining technique used in paper sculpture.

Well done, if you selected answer D.

Indeed.

Shading is not a joining technique used in paper sculpture.

We can use shapes to create larger forms by using multiples of the same shape.

These techniques can be seen in many artworks, such as Sokari Douglas Camp's work "Ruffle Jonkonnu." Uses repeated steel circles to build up a 3D form of a figure.

Faith Bebbington creates sculptures with repeated cardboard shapes to build animals and figures on a large scale.

And Peter Callesen uses paper cutouts of a human body in his piece, "We are all in the same boat." You can be experimental when developing the composition of your sculpture by trying different approaches and techniques.

You might try layering and repeating shapes, creating contrast using size, height, and direction.

Let's check for understanding.

Composition can be effective when: The artwork uses only one colour.

Shapes are layered and repeated.

There is contrast in size, height, and direction.

Materials are hidden from view.

Pause the video while you decide which of these can support composition to be effective.

Well done, if you selected answers B and C.

Indeed, shapes being layered and repeated and a contrast in size, height, and direction can all support effective composition.

And now, it's time for your next task.

I would like you to design a sculpture for your school or a local public space.

Build your sculpture with paper, and show understanding of shape, form, structure, and space.

Your paper sculpture should use at least three techniques, cutting, folding, twisting, rolling, curling, include joining methods like tabs, flanges, or stacking, and show thoughtful composition.

How are your shapes arranged? What effect does this have? So pause here while you design a sculpture for your school or local public space, and then build your sculpture.

So how did you get on with designing a sculpture for your school or local public space? There are many possibilities, but you may have created something incredible like this.

Let's hear from Sofia.

"I experimented with shape and composition.

I imagined the sculpture was large enough to walk through, which helped me understand the relationship between the forms." I can really see that as something that could be on a large scale, and you could imagine walking through that.

Great thinking from Sofia.

In our lesson, "The elements of Art: Shape and Form," we've covered the following.

Shape is flat, 2D, but form is 3D, and takes up space.

We can turn shapes into 3D forms using paper techniques, like folding, curling, and layering.

Artists and designers often repeat shapes to build bigger forms and create interesting compositions.

Well done, everyone, for joining in with this lesson.

It was great to explore shape and form with you and then to get practical.

And I loved your designs and your experimentation with paper and creating your own sculptures.

I hope you enjoyed this lesson.

I certainly did.

I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.