Shape Theory: Visual Arts Elements Progression

Shape is another fundamental element of visual art, formed by the intersection of lines. As students progress, their understanding and application of shapes should evolve. This guide outlines a progression of shape theory across different year levels.

Foundation and Level 1

Building the Basics

In the foundation years, students are introduced to the concept of shape. They begin to recognize and create simple shapes.

• Foundation
  • Basic shape identification: Recognises simple shapes like circles, squares, triangles.
  • Shape in nature: Identifies basic shapes in objects around them (e.g., circular sun, triangular roof).
  • Creating shapes: Experiments with making different shapes using various materials.
• Year 1
  • Shape vocabulary: Uses words like circle, square, triangle, rectangle, oval.
  • Shape comparison: Compares shapes based on size, colour, and orientation.
  • Shape patterns: Creates simple patterns using shapes.

Years 2 and 3

Expanding the Understanding of Shape

As they progress to Years 2 and 3, the students understanding of shapes deepens, and they begin to explore their role in creating compositions and expressing ideas.

Year 2

• Shape properties: Describes shapes based on sides, corners, and curves.
• 3D shapes: Begins to recognise basic 3D shapes (sphere, cube, cylinder).
• Shape transformation: Experiments with changing shapes (e.g., stretching a circle to make an oval).

Year 3

• Positive and negative space: Understands the relationship between shapes and the space around them.
• Geometric and organic shapes: Differentiates between regular and irregular shapes.
• Shape in composition: Uses shapes to create balance and emphasis in artworks.

Intermediate Years (Years 4-6)

Exploring the Versatility of Shape

In these years, students expand their understanding of shapes and their applications in various artistic contexts.

Year 4

• Shape analysis: Breaks down complex shapes into simpler components.
• Shape and perspective: Explores how shapes change in appearance with distance.
• Shape and texture: Combines shape with texture to create visual interest.

Year 5

• Shape and form: Understands the relationship between 2D and 3D shapes.
• Shape and movement: Uses shape to create a sense of motion.
• Shape and symbolism: Explores how shapes can represent ideas or concepts.

Year 6

• Shape and structure: Analyzes how shapes contribute to the structure of an artwork.
• Shape and proportion: Understands the importance of shape relationships in creating harmony.
• Shape and personal style: Develops a personal approach to using shape in artworks.

Senior Years (Levels 7-10)

Mastery and Innovation with Shapes

In the senior years, students refine their understanding of shapes and explore their potential in variety of mediums and techniques.

• Level 7
  • Shape and space: Explores the use of shapes to create illusions of space and depth.
  • Shape and perspective: Applies perspective techniques to create realistic representations of shapes.
  • Shape and composition: Analyzes the use of shapes in famous artworks using visual art language with little assistance.
• Level 8
  • Shape and abstraction: Experiments with abstract shapes and their meanings.
  • Shape and design: Applies shape principles to graphic design and other fields.
  • Shape and emotion: Explores how shapes can evoke specific emotions.
• Level 9
  • Shape and technology: Uses digital tools to create and manipulate shapes.
  • Shape and materials: Explores how shapes can be created with different materials.
  • Shape and culture: Analyzes the cultural significance of shapes in different societies.
• Level 10
  • Shape and personal style: Develops a unique approach to using shapes in their artwork.
  • Shape and critique: Evaluates the effectiveness of shape usage in artworks.
  • Shape and innovation: Explores new and innovative ways to use shapes in art.

By following this progression, students can develop a deep understanding of shapes and their role in visual art. They can apply these skills to create expressive, meaningful, and visually compelling artworks. This guide also helps teachers understand the level at which their students are understanding this art element.

Foundation

• Basic shape identification: Recognises simple shapes like circles, squares, triangles.
• Shape in nature: Identifies basic shapes in objects around them (e.g., circular sun, triangular roof).
• Creating shapes: Experiments with making different shapes using various materials.

Year 1

• Shape vocabulary: Uses shape names accurately (oval, rectangle, hexagon).
• Shape combinations: Combines basic shapes to create new forms (e.g., house made of squares and triangles).
• Shape patterns: Recognises and creates simple shape patterns.

Year 2

• Shape properties: Describes shapes based on sides, corners, and curves.
• 3D shapes: Begins to recognise basic 3D shapes (sphere, cube, cylinder).
• Shape transformation: Experiments with changing shapes (e.g., stretching a circle to make an oval).

Year 3

• Positive and negative space: Understands the relationship between shapes and the space around them.
• Geometric and organic shapes: Differentiates between regular and irregular shapes.
• Shape in composition: Uses shapes to create balance and emphasis in artworks.

Year 4

• Shape analysis: Breaks down complex shapes into simpler components.
• Shape and perspective: Explores how shapes change in appearance with distance.
• Shape and texture: Combines shape with texture to create visual interest.

Year 5

• Shape and form: Understands the relationship between 2D and 3D shapes.
• Shape and movement: Uses shape to create a sense of motion.
• Shape and symbolism: Explores how shapes can represent ideas or concepts.

Year 6

• Shape and structure: Analyzes how shapes contribute to the structure of an artwork.
• Shape and proportion: Understands the importance of shape relationships in creating harmony.
• Shape and personal style: Develops a personal approach to using shape in artworks.

Level 7-12

• Shape and design principles: Applies shape to principles of design (balance, contrast, rhythm, unity).
• Shape and analysis: Critiques artworks based on shape usage and effectiveness.
• Shape and innovation: Experiments with unconventional shape combinations and forms.
• Shape and context: Explores shape in different art historical periods and cultures.
• Shape and technology: Uses digital tools to manipulate and create complex shapes.