Master Interlocking Shapes: Paint Your Own Stunning Art

In this lesson you will learn the two main shapes you can make and how they can become more complex geometric type shapes. Then we will look at combining shapes using three methods. Finally you will have a quick look at combing two shapes to create an interlocking shape.

What are the two shapes you can make?

Dot- apply your mark making medium to a surface and lift it.
Line- apply your mark making medium to paper, or canvas, and drag it along the surface.

How can line be used to create more complex shapes?

By adding, or joining, one line to another you can create infinite shape possibilities such as square, rectangle, hexagon and so on.

What are the three combined shapes we will use in this lesson?

Overlap- this happens when one shape is stacked over another
Passage- this happens when two shapes are fused, or joined to create one shape
Cut-out- this is when a shape intersects with another and reshapes the original edge.

What are interlocking shapes?

Interlocking shapes are created when two, or more shapes interweave, one with the another.

See Attached Demo Image

In this tutorial you will learn more about how you can rearrange shapes to create an interlocking shapes. This is where you will start to understand how any object, or subject, should be viewed as a shape only. So, always avoid the trap of looking at your subjects literally. Instead look at them as shapes. This is a completely different approach that will begin to develop the all important quest which is to see like an artist.

To help you with this idea you will see two different compositions. One design is disjointed because all shapes are isolated. In the second example the same shapes are used but this time they're rearranged to interlock. So, one shape flows to the next one, and that connects with another, and so on.

Bonus Tip - Shape and value are connected. You cannot have one without the other. The three ways you can create a shape are to add value to the edge of a shape, add value in, or fill, a shape and lastly you can add value around the shape, or negative space.

See Attached Demo Image

Now that you understand how using basic outlines and rearranging shapes can create interlocking shape opportunities we can dive a little deeper. 

The next layer is all about adding value to the design. You will see in the short demo how lighting is used to create shadows and a variety of values for the shapes. Those shadow values are easily manipulated to interlock different shapes thus making the composition more cohesive. The goal is to blend shapes as much as possible so that no shapes seem isolated.

Your suggested assignment

• Recreate a similar design (so use a house, tree, fence, etc) and add value to it. 

• Feel free to alter the shapes and lighting in any way to make the design more interesting. 

• Please use pencil, or graphite only. 

• Keep size small; 5x7" will do.

See Attached Demo Image

About critique video! This class was once an online workshop where students were asked to recreate a similar study using the same basic shapes and value as in the video. Their work was critiqued which is what you are viewing in this lecture. It's a fantastic learning tool to see how other artists completed the suggested assignment and then have some constructive criticism.