What is negative space?

Image courtesy of Adobe stock photos.

We last spoke about how lines and shapes are the bones of an image within a drawing. Now lets focus on the space that exist around an image. The space surrounds an image is called negative space. Negative space helps define the boundaries of the positive space (the image itself) and can be used to measure the accuracy of the proportions of the positive space. Understanding negative space can also be used creatively to enhance the overall composition of an artwork which will improve your design skills! Notice the image of the small frog to the left — all of the lighter green area that surrounds the small frog and 2 green branches is the negative space!

Now that we defined what negative space is. What are negative shapes? You guessed it! Negative shapes are the shapes that form when the lines that define the positive space connect to one another. Sometimes these shapes are geometric, and other times they can be organic. Look at the image of the small frog image to the right, do you notice all of the negative shapes that I highlighted with pastel colors? Identifying these shapes are important when checking and correcting the scale and proportion of your positive shapes (the image itself) within the composition. When we are aware of the size of the negative shapes, we can use them to help measure the size and scale of our positive shapes to ensure they are as accurate as possible. 

Notice how the negative space created 6 negative shapes that surround the small frog. We can use these shapes to make sure our frog is the correct size!

Think about it, the negative shapes are just as important to a composition as the positive shapes; as they both make up the entire artwork. If you were to draw the negative shapes about too small, the frog would be bigger than its actual size. However, if you were to draw the negative shapes too large, the frog would be smaller than its actual size. Getting the negative shapes or space accurate when drawing an image,  takes you one step closer to having good proportion and scale, which helps your image appear as what it is supposed to look like without being distorted. Sometimes artist intentionally want to distort their image and will purposely alter the size of the negative space to accomplish so. However, if you are attempting to draw realistically, understanding and knowing how to use negative space as a tool, will serve as huge help when taking your first steps at drawing or brushing up on your drawing skills!

LETSDRAWTOGETHER_ SMALL FROG

Click the link above and download the free resource and practice drawing the small frog from the photo above. Remember to use the negative space to check the proportions  of the frog! Find the lines and positive shapes to help you draw the frog itself. I will post a video of myself drawing the frog as soon as possible and add it to this blog post. Until then…happy drawing!