Research task: negative space

Task: Re-analysing the same images I chose for research task 1 but focusing on negative space.

I first went to read the chapter on space in one of the recommendation books on the reading list: Drawing: A complete Guide by Stephen C. P. Gardner. While I didn’t find anything on negative space, I did better understand how to achieve perspective with a horizon line, orthogonals and vanishing points. As I read I thought I had done my previous drawing all in the wrong order (composition first) but this is how it works when doing an observational drawing. What I didn’t do after getting my composition right was first then establishing the horizon line. I essentially drew my objects directly without one and using comparison and proportion to get the objects grouped together in the way I wanted. Note to self on trying it this way next time and comparing to see the difference.

The negative space here seems to be the space around the set of glasses that creates a kind of ‘border’ that positions the glasses very much in the middle of the image. There is also the negative space between each set which gives the impression of the glasses being on a very flat surface. I wonder what it would look like if there was more tone there, perhaps that the surface wasn’t flat for example.

Schiele here has taken his drawing right off the page in all sides to create or use the negative space between the branches and leaves. It flattens this so much that I almost feel like it could be trees and a white sky or a tile with this image on it and cracks in places where the branches get so thin. The contrast between the off-white background and the trees really works with the negative space of the sky or perhaps its a wall. The ambiguity is really interesting!

Here I think the negative space is all the areas that have not been coloured or filled in very purposefully. The table top, for example gives the effect of still being the table top but is void of any marks or colour yet still seems solid due to the outline of it. The top left corner is the same but gives more of an impression of fading into the distance as there is no outline, just off-page.

Negative space here I think is the black background that helps the objects stand out and the blue table/floor that helps ‘ground’ the objects onto something.

I am not sure where the negative space is here! It’s so detailed and full of objects and marks that I struggle with this one. Would the black jacket reflected in the mirror count to help give the impression of the reflection and space for example? I’m not sure. The lilac-gold patches that represent the wall that separates mirror and bar shelves? Perhaps the white areas that represent the lights and given they are so blank and white it gives the idea of a glow can be considered as negative space.

Negative space here also eludes me, because there is so many marks, colours and details. Can we could the bedspread even if there are details, since it allows for the positioning of the figure? The brown of the table top around the objects cluttering it? The lilac rectangle in the top left perhaps suggesting a mirror or picture, obscured by the flowers in the foreground but thus allowing for the suggestion of something on the wall and for the flowers to stand out?

Negative space here, since its very black and white, seems to be the white areas around the edges that run off the page and the darker tent opening in the middle and left was that also helps bring out the door, sacks and bed in the foreground. There is also the slit of bright sky as you look through the tent flap that also helps give the definition of the sky even if not filled with anything. I still find this image very busy though so there is not much negative space as far as I understand it.

Here I think the negative space is the table surface and walls in the background. The outlines and colours identify the shape but they all come together around the peppers to give the peppers their position and grounding on the table top. Perhaps consider also the really white unmarked parts of the inside of the right pepper as this suggests the white part but lacks any actual marks or colour.

Some further thoughts:

• In the feedback from my first course on illustration, I was told that I had very good composition skills which leads me to wonder if I was unconsciously using negative space when coming up with final design proposals to get the right look and focus or message from my illustrations. I think I find this more intuitive in a graphic design sense than when doing observational drawing so this exercise is quite useful to rethink that.
• Note to think on this again when looking more concretely at composition.
• Negative space can be used to create tension, flatness, glowy light, silhouette, frames, contrast, direct focus, highlight objects….

References

Gardner, S., n.d. Drawing: A complete guide. 1st ed. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd., pp.217-240.