What is composition in a sculpture

Continuation of Visual Art Term List from Unit One Formal Elements - continued: Another ability of the human eye is to use the texture in the world to judge distance. A tree that is close has leaves that are defined with detail; a tree in the distance loses the detail and the leaf becomes more of a shape. This ability to see two different versions of imagery from the same object allows the human eye to see distance. On a two-dimensional plane such as a piece of paper or canvas the artist uses texture to create detail for close-up views of an object such as bricks in the road, and less texture as the road diminishes in the distance The change in size and detail allows the brain to read the illusion of space on the flat surface. Texture can be created by applying different types of brushstrokes or spattered paint in painting; or by using crosshatched marks in drawing and printmaking. Marks on a two dimensional plane are implied texture. The human brain reads the marks as information about an object or space. With impasto painting (thick application of paint) the mark made can be three-dimensional. Actual texture is used in three-dimensional work where the surface of clay or metal or any other sculptural medium is distressed or scratched to create physical surface texture. Ursula von Rydingsvard uses a chain saw to put texture on her wood sculptures. Ursala von Rydingsvard, Bowl with Fingers, sculpture Using words to describe spatial qualities is somewhat humorous. When you first hear of it, the phrase negative space can sound ridiculous. In art work there is positive space and negative space. Imagine a table against the wall with a great big pumpkin sitting on top of the table. You are looking at the table straight on, everything parallel and perpendicular, the table and the pumpkin are considered positive space. They are physical objects that take up space; but everything around them is negative space. On a reproduction of some paintings or photographs, one can draw a shape that depicts the positive space and another shape that is the negative space. The wall, because it is parallel to the table and equal to the two-dimensional surface of paper or canvas, can become, in a sense, less visible or more atmospheric. The wall although it blocks our view of anything else can appear to have less substance. Even though the wall is a physical object, if it is shown without edges it can be negative space.