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The Four Basic Shapes
Artists see the world as a collection of shapes! The four most important shapes in art are circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles.
A circle is perfectly round with no corners at all. Think of the sun, a wheel, a cookie, or a clock face. Circles feel friendly and complete.
A square has four equal sides and four corners. Think of a window, a tile on the floor, or a cracker. Squares feel stable and balanced.
A triangle has three sides and three corners (or points). Think of a slice of pizza, a mountain peak, or a roof. Triangles feel strong and pointy.
A rectangle is like a stretched-out square with two long sides and two short sides. Think of a door, a book, or a smartphone. Rectangles are everywhere in our human-made world!