Positive and Negative Space

Artists talk about space in two different ways:

1.Positive Space

2.Negative Space

Can you think of what the definitions for positive and negative space might be?

Positive Space • Positive space is the space that an object

occupies.• On the left hand side picture, the positive space

is the area that the bottles take up.• On the right hand side picture, the positive

space is shown as the black objects.

Negative Space• Negative space is opposite of positive.• Negative space is the space around an object.• On the left hand side picture, the negative space

is the white area around the bottles.• On the right hand side picture, the negative

space is shown as the black area surrounding the bottle.

Does the image show positive or Negative space??

Artists often use positive space and negative space to manipulate an object.

For instance, an artist might deliberately leave a cutout area white, which would be a negative space. Then, they might add some kind of pattern in that space to trick the viewer’s eyes.

Pattern making in doodles

• Have you ever drawn a doodle in class?

• Artists often use doodles in all sorts of different artworks.

• Why do you think artists think that doodles are so important.

Take a look at these artists’ doodles

Doodles often use patterns. Take a look at these pattern doodles.