Some shapes are neat. Their sides are straight, or their curves are even, like a circle, a square or a triangle. Artists call these geometric shapes.
Other shapes are free. Their edges curve and wander in uneven ways, like a cloud, a leaf or a puddle. Artists call these organic shapes, because many of them come from nature.
Key idea
Neat (geometric) shapes have straight sides or even curves. Free (organic) shapes curve in uneven ways.
Why it works
Most things people build, like boxes and windows, have neat shapes. Most things in nature, like rocks and leaves, have free shapes. Knowing the difference helps your drawings look right.
Common mistake
Some children think a shape needs a name, like "circle," to be a shape. When a line goes all the way around and meets itself, it makes a shape. A puddle is a shape too: a free one.
Worked example: Let's look
Is a pebble a neat shape or a free shape?
- A pebble is lumpy and a little uneven.
- Its edge is not straight or perfectly round.
Answer: A free (organic) shape.
For the grown-up. Take a "shape walk" outside. Point to a free shape (a cloud, a leaf) and a neat one (a window, a sign). Ask which is which and why.