NEGATIVE SPACE
    A Basic Drawing Lesson

    Working with surrounding space

    TIME NEEDED: approximately 3 class periods


    MATERIALS NEEDED


  • pencil
  • paper 12x18
  • one colored marker - any color - make it your favorite
  • one or more potted plants
  • eraser

    OBJECTIVES In a painting or drawing, the space around the object is just as important as the object itself. A good artist strives for a balance between the positive (the object) space and the negative (background) space around it. The object of this lesson is to work with the surrounding space.

    DIRECTIONS

    STEP 1
    WHAT TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE BEGINNING
    The shape and color of a plant's leaves and flowers is what makes each plant unique. Plants have large, wide leaves, many small leaves or long slender leaves. Sometimes the leaves stick straight up and sometimes they gracefully fall away from the plant. Begin to notice the shapes of the leaves on the plants around you.

    STEP 2
    Draw the plant on your paper so it completely fills the paper - touching at least three of the sides.

    STEP 3
    With a single color marker, color in everything that is not the pot or the plant. You will be coloring in all the "negative" space. What remains white is the shapes of the leaves of the plant.

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