Every artist starts with one large shape, the picture plane. Two-dimensional shapes that lie on the surface of the picture plane are called decorative. As they become embellished with texture, value and line, they can become plastic. Try to enrich the surface but keep the shapes as flat as possible. Their edges and direction may lead across the picture surface but try to keep the penetration of space into the picture plane limited. Overlapping shapes divide the space but also create a feeling of depth. These shapes are called planes and may create movements back and forth in space.
Materials:
Drawing materials: pencil, ink, crayon, and paper.
Method:
A) Divide a rectangular picture plane with overlapping planes to create movement that goes backward into space but not so deep that unity with the picture plane is destroyed. Create variations by changing the size of the planes and placing them into different spatial relationships based on the original picture plane. Have enough similarity in the planes (shapes) so that they are considered to belong to the same shape families. You could also try overlapping transparent planes so that new shapes are created. Value additions will help the planes create depth. (Fig. 4.2A)
B) When these flat shapes, like circles, present the illusion of basic three-dimensional shapes, they become spheres, squares become cubes, and so forth. The space concept may go from decorative or shallow to deep and infinite. Use the composition from Part A and transform this into deep space by substituting solid shapes, such as cubes, pyramids, et cetera, in a second arrangement.
