In drawing sketching or painting form is a term that is used to depict the actual volume and shape of an object. Visual representation of an object is made on a surface which is 2D whereas in reality things have volume. In line drawing, this volume can not be depicted but as we have discussed in our tutorial on tonal values, by using tonal variation the illusion of volume can be created successfully.
Basic shapes that are building block of all complex drawings, are sphere, cube or cuboid and cylinder. Cone can also be treated as a fundamental building block. When tonal values are added to these basic shapes we create form of different shapes and volume.
Most of the complex organic and inorganic forms that we see around us can be effectively broken down to these basic building blocks.
Lets consider a glass of drinking water. The glass can be compared with our cylinder but with slight modification, it has a base narrower than the top(there are glasses that are pure cylindrical).
If we tweak the basic forms we get so many different forms that are little more organic than the basic forms. Thus a slight elongation of a sphere can create ellipsoid.
If we stretch a little further we can create forms that we can see around us everyday. So lets see construction of some of the object forms from our very known basic forms.
Head: Basic form - Sphere, Elongation- vertical, additional form - inverted frustum
Hand: Basic form - Cylinder, Alteration - Tapering
A human torso can be seen as a rectangular box in its very basic form. No doubt, while depicting it in classical way as masters does, it looks a very complicated shape. Nevertheless the basic shape helps understand the underlying gross shape. This basic shape helps give a starting point while trying to draw the torso and a foundation to build on.
It is also very important to know the object that is being drawn and how rigid or flexible it is which determines its changes in shape. While a wooden box has a fixed form, a human body is flexible enough to change form and thus poses extreme difficulty in drawing it. That being said, it is important to know the underlying basic shape that changes to give other forms.
If we tweak the basic forms we get so many different forms that are little more organic than the basic forms. Thus a slight elongation of a sphere can create ellipsoid.
If we stretch a little further we can create forms that we can see around us everyday. So lets see construction of some of the object forms from our very known basic forms.
Head: Basic form - Sphere, Elongation- vertical, additional form - inverted frustum
Hand: Basic form - Cylinder, Alteration - Tapering
A human torso can be seen as a rectangular box in its very basic form. No doubt, while depicting it in classical way as masters does, it looks a very complicated shape. Nevertheless the basic shape helps understand the underlying gross shape. This basic shape helps give a starting point while trying to draw the torso and a foundation to build on.
It is also very important to know the object that is being drawn and how rigid or flexible it is which determines its changes in shape. While a wooden box has a fixed form, a human body is flexible enough to change form and thus poses extreme difficulty in drawing it. That being said, it is important to know the underlying basic shape that changes to give other forms.
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