Negative Space and Forming Shapes

Negative Space In art, generally, negative space is the space around and between the subjects of an image.art

Negative is the opposite of positive, especially when positive represents the values and colors of an image much as they would appear in reality.positive represents

The use of negative space is a key element of artistic composition.

Usage of negative space will produce a silhouette of the subject.silhouette

Creating a negative space drawing allows you to create a variety of shapes across your canvas that you wouldn’t typically see.

What is a shape? Noun: the external form or appearance characteristic of someone or something; the outline of an area or figure. Specifically in art – an enclosed space, the boundaries of which are defined by other elements of art (ie. lines, color, value, texture, etc.)

Geometric shapes Circles, rectangles, squares, triangles and so on -- have the clear edges one achieves when using tools to create them.

Organic shapes Have natural, less well-defined edges (think: an amoeba, or a cloud).

When you draw the negative space you observe and record the space around the objects – You create the shapes of the negative space!

When creating a negative space drawing, we look for and record this space!

These spaces can be better understood as geometric or organic shapes.

These shapes are almost more interesting to look at than the object itself.

To complete our negative space drawing, we will focus on the shapes of the negative space. NOT the shapes of the objects themselves.

1 “unit” ¼ “unit” The whole length of the left vertical side of that shape would be? 1 ¼ the length of the first horizontal line you’ve made.