Negative Space

Shapes Created by Negative Space

Negative space are the shapes BETWEEN objects.

The shapes between the legs of a chair,

The shapes between the branches of a tree,

or a plant….

Negative shapes are, therefore, often the glimpses of background that we see, in between our chosen foreground shapes

Those odd shapes between the positive shapes of your subject. They will create a silhouette of

your actual subject when shaded in.

The real advantage to negative shape drawing comes when you return to your usual

drawing methods – You’ll find you’re more able to see, and draw, and use those negative background shapes to help you establish the

positive shapes of your subject.

Back to the keys!Project:

Using your contour drawings, you will trace the negative shapes.

Using graphite (drawing pencils), you will fill the negative space with one or more interesting patterns.

Go Forth and discover and fill the wonderful world of NEGATIVE SHAPES.

Henri Matisse

paintings illustrate the use of simple contour lines and pattern