Form

Form. Unlike background, color and many other art theories/principles, it is pretty cut and dry. Form is what defines shape while occupying space at the same time. Shape can be 2-D (two dimensional) but not necessarily 3-D. One example I always think of is a Halloween episode of the Simpsons where Homer is sucked into a 3-D world changing his 2-D shape and taking 3-D form. Kinda silly, I know. But, it helped me think about form a long time ago. So, when considering form, it is imperative to recognize how shape takes up space. Form can be interesting in itself, but, it can also be interesting to look at the shape around the piece that isn't part of it. This is called 'negative space'. This occurs in both 2-D and 3-D works. Whether it is intentional or not, that doesn't matter. The size of the form can have adverse effects on the viewer. One example is a monumental sized door versus a normal sized one. Through out history many sculptors created some sort of intimidating or overwhelming gateway into a place. Think of the Statue of Liberty: a huge woman representing freedom and welcome to the land of liberty. The only exception to the life sized piece is when one is your height and seems to be looking for a fight (these are also known as mannequins). On the opposite end of the spectrum are smaller-life sized pieces. These could be idols for people to carry around or other items that are don't intimidate the viewers. They could convey a constricted feeling or a sense of belittlement.
Here are a couple examples of form. One is a picture I found online(I do not own the rights to it). The other is a functional sculpture I did for school (it's a zombie gnome with a candle inside). Enjoy!