Art of the Third Dimension Art of the Third Dimension To be three-dimensional is to possess, or to create the illusion of possessing, the dimension of depth in addition to the dimensions of height and width. The depth of three-dimensional art creates a greater sense of reality and increases the physical impact of the artwork. The basic concepts of three-dimensional art are shape, mass, volume, and form.
Shape refers to either a positive or negative area.
Mass, on the other hand, denotes a solid object of large weight or bulk, or a body of matter, such as the raw materials used to create an object. Volume is defined as the amount of space the mass or bulk of the artwork occupies, or the three-dimensional area of space that is enclosed by planes, edges, or wires. Form is the total of all the media and techniques used to create the artwork from its elements.