How to Paint with Negative Space
When used creatively and intelligently, positive and negative space together can tell a story using visual composition alone.
- Positive space refers to the main focus of a picture, while negative space refers to the background.
- When used creatively and intelligently, positive and negative space together can tell a story using visual composition alone.
- The negative space of a painting can often be more important than the positive space in creating a feeling.
- Both positive and negative space can play important roles in the overall success of a work of art.
- Positive space is the area or part of the composition that an object or subject occupies. It is usually the main focus of the painting.
- When used skillfully, positive space will add interest by enhancing and balancing the negative space in a composition.
Related Reading
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When teaching I’ve been asked if a painter can hide the fact that they can’t draw, if they paint really loosely. Immediately an image ofRead MoreDoes Drawing Matter in a Loose Painting? by Kim VanDerHoek
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Traditional drawing is certainly way harder than digital and it is true that people are able to progress much faster digitally, but one should learnRead MoreTechniques on Traditional Drawing
Read MoreGreat Art Cinema
No one expects much from Christy Brown (Daniel Day-Lewis), a boy with cerebral palsy born into a working-class Irish family. Though Christy is a spastic quadriplegic and essentially paralyzed, a miraculous event occurs when, at the age of 5, he demonstrates control of his left foot by using chalk to scrawl a word on the floor. With the help of his steely mother (Brenda Fricker) — and no shortage of grit and determination — Christy overcomes his infirmity to become a painter, poet and author.
Useful Apps
Photofunia is a free online photo editor (not a mobile app) that puts your image into a stock collage-style background. There are more than just blank walls here, which is fun but can be tedious to sift through. There are some more creative choices than just “art on a white wall above a couch.” It’s as simple as choosing the background you want, uploading your image from your hard drive or from online, and clicking Go. You can then download the photo. Some images can generate in high-res (they’re marked HD) and some cannot. These are fun and eye-catching, and I can see them as really effective images for Facebook ads promoting your work.
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Art Reading List
This blog is packed full of fascinating content. You’ll find highbrow artist interviews, reviews, gallery and exhibition recommendations, plus news from around the art world.
If you’re a curious art enthusiast looking for an educational read, Google’s arts and culture blog will offer you just that.
