Negative Space Drawing

• In negative space drawing, instead of observing the positive shape of an object, you draw the shape of the space around the object. This may include any background detail or pattern, or it may be drawn as a simple silhouette

• The correct approach to negative space drawing involves observing the shapes formed between different parts of the object or between one edge of the object and a boundary. By drawing the background spaces or shapes between the edge of the object and the opposing edge or boundary, the positive form of the object is left un-drawn, resulting in a correct negative space drawing. This is the reverse of normal positive space drawing, where you would be looking at the form and drawing its edges.

The purpose of a negative space drawing:

Often times students end up drawing what they think they see instead of what they truly see. This is normal of art students who are just beginning or people who have little to no art training. The left brain tends to simplify things into simpler shapes and forms and students tend to lose track of what they draw and end up drawing a codified, simplified version of the object they are trying to draw. By drawing the negative space, it allows students to focus on the outside shapes and really notice the details and contours of the objects they are trying to replicate. Basically, it helps your brain notice things it was not capable of before. Creating a strong negative space drawing will result in a strong foundation for being able to create an accurate positive space drawing. Developing this skill will make you a better artist and it will make you better at noticing small or important details.

Examples of Negative Space Drawings:

Today's Assignment:

• The teacher will display a still life setup on the monitor

• Students will begin by folding their paper in half along the center line vertically (hotdog style). Once completed, they will unfold their paper leaving a center divide.

• Students will draw ONLY the negative space in the image. They will draw big enough to cover the entire sheet of paper. What students need to check for is accuracy. They need to be sure that the proportions of their image (size relation of one object to another) is correct.

• On one half of their sheet of paper, students will black out the negative space area using their pencils or a black colored pencil.

• On the other half of their sheet of paper, students will take their negative space drawing and fill in the positive space with a highly detail rendering of the still life image.

Examples of today's assignment:

For more information on negative space, check out this video below:

The project will follow a similar format to the negative space drawing assignment listed above. However, instead of having 1 area of blackened negative space and 1 area of a detailed positive space, students will have several.

Directions:

• Students will draw a vertical line down their paper at the center line does diving the paper into two halves.

• Students will draw 2 horizontal lines on their paper about 1/3rd the paper height apart

• Students will create their own still life setup at home and photograph it. The still life should consists of objects that create a strong negative space. Students must incorporate at least 4 objects of interest.

• Students will create a negative space drawing of their still life

• In the boxes created with the vertical and horizontal lines, students will vary in their depiction of positive and negative space.

• Box 1: blank white positive and black negative

• Box2: detailed positive space drawing and a blank white negative

• Each box will alternate between blank positive and detailed positive.