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#5 Negative Shape Drawings



In drawings there are three basic elements of composition: 
  • the frame (the edge of the pictorial space) 
  • the positive
  • the negative space

The positive space is easiest to understand because we see it. Generally, it is the space occupied by your subject. 

Conversely, negative space is the space that is not your subject and people often simply forget about. 


Simply put, Negative space is the space that surrounds an object within an image. 

It is just as important as that object itself -- air is important for most every living organisims isn't it?
Negative space helps to define the boundaries of positive space and brings balance to a composition.


The negative space is defined by the edges of the positive space and the frame or border (the third element). 

Thus, part of our negative space is bound by the frame and another part is bounded by the positive space. 


Sometimes the negative space is completely bound by the positive space. 

What is important also to note is that the negative space also assists in defining your subject.


Make a view finder by using heavy cardboard.
Make it in two separate corners 6" x 1.5" to look like an "L" shape.  Put together, the two Ls can give you the potential to propotion the view finder in numerous ways. 

1. Create a still life with two inanimate objects and one piece of fruit.

2. Look at the scene you are about to draw through the viewfinder.  

3. Close one of your eyes and scan across the still life or object to find the infinite variety of composed image possibilities.  

4. Commit to the most exciting composition you can find to draw.  

5. Look for the negative areas left between the edges of the viewfinder's interior space and the contours of the edges you see on your objects. 

6. Draw the shapes and spaces you see within the object itself, such as rungs of chairs, legs, bars and other parts. 

Create one drawing using this method. 
Enlarge your drawing to fill the image frame. 

Fill in these areas with a middle gray India ink wash with the addition of salt to add an interesting abstract field in the negative space.

Your drawings should effectively indicate that the pictorial still life you have drawn looks as if it accurately describes a spatial field and/or depth.
                                      Negative Shape Drawing Assessment Rubric     Name

Project # 5

Objectives + Goals:
In this assignment, you will set up a still life with two inorganic objects and will include one piece of fruit.  
Use sighting practices and negative shape strategies to understand and ‘place’ objects convincingly in your pictorial space.  
Your drawings should look as if depth is evident in the drawing.  
Fill in the ‘air’ with an interesting abstract India Ink / salt and water solution that will hit a middle gray.

            20%                             20%                             20%                             20%                             20%                 
Followed assignment
Correct size, Image frame floating, etc.
On watercolor paper
Overall quality of using a middle gray of ink and salt to add an interesting abstract texture

Overall quality of the drawing successfully looks like it is from direct observation
Overall quality of Composition – still life should establish a pictorial space
Overall craft effectiveness – clean of dirt, clean cuts, clean bonding, etc.
Titled & signed. L. +  R
A = 5 points
B = 4
C = 3
D = 2  








Each area of assessment worth 20 points x 5 = 100%
Numerical Conversion looks like this:
              
A   95 - 100
B+   87 - 89
C+   77 - 79
D+   67 - 69






A-    90 - 94
B     83 - 86
C    73 - 76
D  65 - 66
Below 65 = F

B-      80 - 82
C-     70 - 72







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