Positive and Negative Space

Usually when we hear the words "positive" and "negative" we think of "good" and "bad." In art though, that is not the case. Positive space is the main subject you are looking at. In the above picture, the positive space is all the people. Negative space is the background or space around the object. In the above picture, the negative space is the white background.

Let's look at the pictures below. What is the positive space? What is the negative space?

Now that you understand positive and negative space, you are ready to do a project where you will create your own positive and negative space. First you should paint a white piece of paper so no white is showing. Since last week we learned about warm and cool colors, please paint your piece of paper in either all warm colors (red, orange, yellow) or all cool colors (green, blue, purple). If you don't have paint, you can color the paper instead.

After it dries, turn the paper over and trace your hand and arm. Please ask an adult if you need help with this.

Now carefully cut out the hand and arm. Put the cut out hand and arm on the side to use in a little. Take what is left of the paper and glue it onto a background paper. Black looks best but you can use whatever color you have. When you glue your paper, it can be put on the right or left side. The next step is to take your hand and arm and glue it on the other side. Here are 2 examples - one done with cool colors and other done with warm colors.

Watch this video about positive and negative space!

Make sure you check out the section "Fun Activities for Everyone"

for extra art activities