Negative space

#1

Ok not a massive poster on this forum but read alot and have seen alot of great replies.

So heres my problem, I’ve read up for a long time on Composition, and have heard that as an artist gets on, he realises that Negative space really is as important to positive space, I can see how this could be true but I’ve never really understood what actually makes a interesting negative space. I want to understand how to make my Painting/Photography better by fully understanding Negative spaces which I’m having trouble with. Look forward to your replies thanks.

#2

I’ll give you a very simple example:

Imagine a scene where a figure is completely wrapped with black cloth, and is walking in a vast, barren desert. Now, imagine the camera zooming out to the point where the black figure is quite small in the scene, and the pale desert against the deep, blue sky completely takes over the picture in how much space they occupy. That’s the power of negative space.

#3

I know it has power, it’s how to use that power interestingly which I’m having trouble with. But your question led me onto another question I’ve been pondering for months.

Negative space is ment to weigh out the positive space yes? How can you get this exact middle? I know its a very hard question to answer but take your best shot! Examples!

Keep em coming

#4

It’s usually the relationship between the subject and the surrounding area, in both the ratio of space they occupy in relation to each other, and the contrast of values/colors between them. For example, a tiny silhouetted figure against a big, bright sky–the figure is very dark, so it carries a lot of weight in terms of value, but the sky is huge compared to the figure, but the value is very bright, so it has weight in the amount of space it occupies, but not in value.

The middle ground is when you balance out both elements of space and value/color. How you decide to balance them out is an artistic choice and you do it according to your taste and what you’re trying to express with the image.

#5

Ahh very helpful thank you very much.

I understand what you mean but could you give me an example of (in your opinion) a perfectly balanced image? Would be very useful rather than trying to visalise it.

Anyone else got any comments on this subject? Keep it coming Luna!

#6

The best way for you to get up to speed on the subject is to download the Loomis books in the sticky thread for tutorials. Loomis is one of the best teachers ever, and his books are like years of art school education.

#7

The best way for you to get up to speed on the subject is to download the Loomis books in the sticky thread for tutorials. Loomis is one of the best teachers ever, and his books are like years of art school education.

#8

I found some Loomis pages on composition that you might find useful: http://www.fineart.sk/index.php?s=40&cat=13

Using more negative space (80/20) than positive space can show isolation.
–In the desert a low horizon line, lots of empty sky and a lone man seen from a distance makes the man seem alone and insignificant.

A balance between negative and positive space is still a lot of negative space in a picture.
–A character in the foreground with a stormy sky or a sunset in the background gives equal importance to the figure and the sky. The sky has to be beautiful enough or important enough to the piece to vie for attention
–Batman is sitting atop a church steeple high above Gotham. Positive space is Batman, the steeple he’s on and the city below. There’s still lots of negative space (sky) to show how high up he is and there’s the irony that one can find seclusion in the city if you know where to look. :slight_smile:
–A single figure in the center of the picture frame. There’s no question here where the artist wants us to look, is there?

Most scenes use more positive than negative space. The challenge in these pictures is using color, composition, shading, etc to show the viewer what details are most important. Too much to cover there – ask Loomis. :slight_smile:

Hope that helps a bit.

#9

Huge help thanks you two, trying to find my way through loomis’ pages on composition, set me on the right track Ilikesoup, much appriciated. Keep any ideas coming!

#10

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