The concept of positive and negative space is important for the artists. If they understand these spaces it will help them to improve the image balance and depth.
Positive and negative space art means the interconnection between the main subjects and their surroundings during image composition. Here the image’s main subject is the positive space and the surrounding is the negative space. These two components work collaboratively and enhance the image’s depth, visualization, and overall quality.
Positive Space
Positive space is the prime subject of the photographer. It is a part of an artwork that catches the viewers’ attention in the first place.
The major characteristics of positive space are mainly two types Such as:
Focal Point of the Artwork
The term ‘Positive typically means the central subjects or elements of images. Photographers intentionally focus on the subjects to draw the attention of the viewers. And highlights them as much as possible.
Detailed and Prominent
The texture, patterns, and depth of the positive space come with more details than the negative space. That helps to highlight every feature of the main subjects. And the visualization becomes more eye-catching.
Here are two examples for better understanding:
Figures in a Portrait
If you see a portrait image of a person, here person is the positive space. If you look carefully, you will notice that the image focuses on the person mostly rather than the background. You will find every detail of each part of a person. Such as you can identify the eye pattern or hairstyle, and nose shape of the person.
Objects in a Still Life
In still-life photography, photographers take versatile nature objects as a positive space. Like Fruits, flowers, rocks, leaves, or any other objects of nature. They focus on and portray every feature in detail.
Techniques for Creating Positive Space
Use Bold Lines and Colors
Try to use well-defined bold lines and bright bold colors. These will make the positive space sharp and make it easier to catch the details. According to the experts, bold colors can catch the audience’s attention quickly. Bold lines describe the shapes of the subjects clearly.
Detailed Textures and Patterns
To make the details of the texture and patterns of positive space use long-exposure, and stippling. Try to shoot in different types of environments and lighting to get the best depth of the images. The combination of natural lighting with some artificial lighting can make the image texture more sharp.
Negative Space
Negative spaces are the surroundings of the main subject in an artwork. It can be a random background that is empty. Or it can be any natural view or object that enhances the image quality. The negative space works to make the positive space more presentable.
The Characteristics of Negative Space are:
Often Less Detailed and More Subtle:
Negative space normally includes fewer details to highlight the positive space. It stays simple and blends smoothly with the main subject to keep the audience’s attention to the main subject.
Define the Boundaries of Positive Space:
It blends in such a way with positive space that provides clear boundaries between them. The color contrast and combination separates the border shape of the subjects which is easy to identify.
Here are two examples:
A Portrait of The Sky Around a Tree in a Landscape:
Observe an image of a sky around a tree in a landscape. You will see that the sky is a negative space and the tree is a positive space. And the tree is more focused than the sky, you can identify the tree branches and leaves with details. And the sky is a portrait with less information.
A Portrait of Legs Between Chair:
In this type of portrait, you will see the blank space between the legs, and chair. It is a negative space that is less highlighted than the legs and chair.
Techniques for Creating Negative Space
Keep it Simple and Minimum:
To maintain the focus on the key subject keep the negative space simple and use minimum objects. It will maintain the perfect contrast between the spaces to highlight the positive space perfectly.
Apply Contrast and Highlight Positive Space:
Apply the contrast level wisely in the negative space to highlight the positive space. If your subject is in darker shades use the lighter background.
Relationship Between Positive and Negative Space
Normally these two Spaces work together to enhance the image’s central subject details. Here are some points where they worked together.
Balance Two space
Achieving visual harmony and balance: To compose an aesthetic photo with visual harmony it is important to balance both spaces. And here photographers show their creativity to create a harmonious relationship between them. Professional photographers make a perfect blend of two spaces. So it seems that the two spaces worked together to make the photo perfect.
They Create a Focal Point Together
Both spaces are technically used by the photographers, to create a focal point in the artwork. Soft and light negative spaces work perfectly in dark subjects. Or a darker background to present the light subject in detail.
Interaction and Interplay
Negative Space Shapes the Perception of Positive Space
Negative space is important to shape positive space. If you choose the negative space wisely, whether it is simple or empty. It will make the subject’s lines and shapes more recognizable. The image is composed of sharp details.
Negative Space’s Guideline for Positive Space
Negative Space Dominates the overall image to make the subject presentable and can catch the viewer’s attention. In that case, photographers need to select the negative space carefully and use them to enhance the subject.
Optical illusions and ambiguous space
Positive and Negative Space are Interchangeable
To create a deep thinking mode in a photo, optical illusions work together with positive and negative Space. It works especially on the interchangeability of these two spaces. Like, you may see the famous Rubin’s Vase, where the image can be seen either in positive space or as two faces in the profile that is negative space. It often depends on the audience’s mood to shift between the two spaces.
Two Spaces Work Together on Visual Perception and Interpretation
To visualize the image of optical illusions, these spaces work combined. This technique highlights the subjective nature of visual perception.
Applications of Positive and Negative Space in Various Art Forms
Drawing and Painting
In drawing and painting artists and professionals use the spaces to get cohesive and wonderful results. They blend the negative spaces with the positive ones to make the painting realistic. They set the positive space or the subject carefully with the negative space. Use contrast color on the background to display the subject accurately.
There are a lot of paintings of famous artists who creatively utilize the Positive and negative space in their paintings. The famous painting “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci, looks at the painting carefully. It uses the negative space in contrast to the subject to highlight the figure, Jesus.
Sculpture and 3D Art
In Sculpture and 3D Art, artists technically use the physical space for creating negative and positive spaces. In this technique, the raw material of the sculpture is considered as the positive space. And the gaps, background are considered as negative spaces.
The best sculptural works that utilize the negative spaces are Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth’s sculptures.
Graphic Design and Advertising
In graphic design and advertising design, Negative space is vastly used to highlight the brand logos. Negative spaces work perfectly to present a brand image or any specific letter in the logos. With the negative spaces, logos get their unique appearance.
Also, Negative spaces are useful for printing any brochure, or prospectus. As they need to highlight the words very clearly, negative space balances the contrast level with the words that are easy to read.
Photography
Photographers use several techniques to make the spaces standard while composing a photo. Such as, They select a background that is totally in contrast to the subject. And they try to frame the subject in less crowded surroundings. And they draw a line between two spaces by applying several lights. After that, they blend the edges by applying photo retouching services to their images.
The spaces have a great impact on describing the mood and story of a photograph. If photographers can combine the two spaces perfectly then the photo gets the power to describe the story itself. By focusing on the subject carefully many photographers made it happen in their images.
Techniques and Tips for Artists
Observational Practices
Artists can improve their skills to apply spaces through continuous observation. Observe the main subjects and the surroundings. Identify what type of background suits your subjects most. Compare multiple negative spaces with positive spaces.
Do experiments on Negative spaces. Try to make sketches that focus on negative space to visualize the positive one. Draw and blend the shape between the subject and background carefully, and do continued exercises to make it perfect.
Compositional Strategies
Try your strategies in composing the image. Do a different experiment to find the perfect balance between the spaces. Try to shoot your subjects from various perspectives. It will help you to identify the right negative space for your subject quickly.
Make some guidelines for yourself that will ensure that you are not missing any techniques. For organizing spaces and frameworks use grids. It will make your work easier while balancing between two spaces.
Creative Exercises:
Artists also can perform some creative exercises to improve them. Such as they can challenge themselves to create a painting that focuses on negative spaces. It will help them to recognize the edge, and shape between spaces.
They can analyze their work by comparing them with the famous artwork of the famous artist. And they can study the famous artwork and the techniques of the artists.
Why is Positive and Negative Space Important to Understand?
The artist needs to understand the spaces clearly before doing any artwork or outside photography. They can’t compose any professional-looking image or painting without the knowledge of these two spaces. It is important to understand the best time to take photographs outside So that they can blend the two spaces in the right way. Also, carefully need to identify the negative spaces for visualizing the subject. And have to learn the blending technique between the borderlines of the spaces. If they are skilled enough in these two spaces they can produce masterpiece paintings and images.
Conclusion
If artists can apply the positive and negative spaces creatively, it will make the images more appealing. And make the painting unique, and dynamic. That is why before making any painting or composing any photograph study carefully about these spaces.
