Tip of the month – May 2008

Recently, negative space has been an area of study in my classes. The question is – WHAT IS NEGATIVE SPACE?

In the visual arts, shapes are used to create an image. This image is an occupied or filled shape and is described as positive space.

At the same time, the surrounding shape that is empty is referred to as negative space.

These are familiar shapes in our every day lives. The doughnut on the left has an empty space from its outside edge outwards. It also, has an empty space in its center. On the right, the bagels have empty space around them and in their centers. The bagel that is cut in half is different. The top half of the bagel is the positive shape and the bottom half is acting as the negative shape. It touches the bagel and moves outward. The center hole shows some of the cut bagel as a negative space shape. Negative space surrounds a positive form and touches its edges and passes behind the form.

HOW CAN YOU WORK WITH NEGATIVE SPACE TO IMPROVE THE COMPOSITION?

In DREAMING, I have used a gradated wash in the negative space. There is an area of light close to the figure that passes behind the figure and becomes darker as it moves away. The wash is also variegated which gives it a mysterious quality in the space surrounding the dancer. The space is more about atmosphere than it is about a solid wall of color. Notice, also, the placement of the figure.

SUNLIT is a single white flower on a dark background. I have chosen to dominate the space with the white of the flower shape.

The negative space contains suggested leaf shapes in closely related values. The leaves too, have a darker negative space.

In FLIGHT OF FANCY, I have used simple flat black shapes in the negative space. These black shapes play a duel negative space role. They are negative shapes for the mottled background and they are also, negative shapes for the bird shapes. They create movement in the composition.

Negative space is needed to appreciate the positive shapes.
HOW DO WE WORK IN THE NEGATIVE SPACE?

When I painted POPPY POETRY, the content of the negative space was not decided during the planning stage. The tip page of AUGUST 2004 demonstrates the painting process for this work. The flower buds were found in the variegated washes that surrounded the flowers and were enhanced by painting the negative space around them.

SEASON OF MISTS was started with an overall wash of yellows. The darker tree on the left is the negative space for the yellow tree. The darker tree consists of subtle textures. The negative space under the yellow tree adds to the shape of the tree and tree trunks are suggested by adjustments in the value in the under growth. There are many more examples of positive shapes that have been created by negative space. Do you see them?

Negative space takes an ability to see something that is not there and to provide a new form for what is there.

Remember, everything in a composition is designed on purpose, both positive and negative shapes.

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