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Is negative space really negative?
By Ted Botting
Negative space contrary to the logical mind has absolutely nothing to do with Star Trek but I’m sure someone will probably contradict me on that statement seeing as I am not a big Star Trek fan. So without my further rambling what is negative space? My simplest answer to this is, it is a term used in drawing and painting to define the space around a subject. If I was to take a photograph of you then remove your image from the picture completely leaving an empty space everything left around that space would be considered negative space. In painting or drawing it is often used to depict something without it actually being there in the piece of work but just an outline created by the negative space that surrounds the object. If you have an object against a background of the same tonal value or color then it makes it very difficult to define the object because it is not being outlined by the negative space surrounding it. In both drawing and painting the negative space needs to be considered because it has importance to the subject. Negative space is also important in photography as it frames the subject but also photographers working in black and white have to be conscious of the tonal values of different colors when transposed to black and white because this affects contrast. Some colors although very different like green and red can often be the same tonal value when transposed to black and white affecting how the subject relates to the area framing it, the area known as negative space. Negative space is often used to great effect in the contemporary visual culture all around us, all the time, in all forms of advertising and the presentation of products. It is common place if you take a look, which hopefully you will because your attention has been drawn to it. So now after bringing your attention to negative space and giving you some basic understanding of the role it plays in visual art there remains a question to be answered. Is negative space really negative? The official MC Escher site http://www.mcescher.com/ is a place to look if you would like to see some of the very best examples of negative space illusion as MC Escher was/is the grand master of optical illusion and negative space art. |
Drawing space, a visual question.
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Negative Space.
Postive and Negative Space.
An example of how green and red can be very similar in black and white images.
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EXTREMELY interesting intel Ted. The first thing that sprung to mind as I was reading, is how do people's 'aura' fit into the 'negative space' scenario? Likewise, the Kurlian Effect http://dawizonline.eCa.sh/KurlianEffect
They must ALL be somehow connected and/or inter-related. I'm no scientist, but it's existence is mind boggling. Thanks again for this AWESOME intel Ted.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Hi John, thank for reminding me about that Kurlian stuff and auras but yes there is so much going on around us all the time that affect us but we know nothing or very little about it. Just by putting different objects close to a central object into its negative space can visually change the way the viewer perceives the image/subject or object. As an example think of an image of a baby sitting on the floor with a big smile and a little teddy bear next to it, now exchange the teddy for a gun and the whole concept changes dramatically. Thanks again, Ted.
This rocks. I often find that if I'm drawing from the negative space, my proportions are more accurate.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Hi Robert, yes that seems to work for a lot of people I have heard perhaps it works because you are translating what you are actually seeing but also looking a lot harder to gather the information, perhaps it is a way of forcing you too look with real intent. Thank you, Ted.
Wow! Thanks for the super-informative intel. I suppose I was somewhat aware of this concept, vaguely, but it really makes a huge difference to have it defined and named. The red guitar in the Katie music video was a positive space island in a sea of negative space, is that correct?
 | | nick Jan 9, 2010 10:39 | |
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Hi Nick, I must confess I did not watch the video till now because you mentioned it but yes sort of, I would say the focal point in the video has been distorted by making the guitar stand out from it's surroundings and detracting from the centre piece being the singer. That's probably why I didn't watch it in the first place because my interest was in the song not the video, just goes to show what a cabbage I am, I encourage others to look while I walk round with my eyes shut, thanks that was cool.
Great intel, Ted.
Would you say that when you see people smoking or pouring a drink for a friend in a movie, that this is use of negative space to intise?
Thank you for sharing.
Frederick
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Hi Frederick, I would say that when they make movies they think about why things are there and very little is incidental really but has been put there for a reason. Do you think that somebody smoking or pouring a drink could entice the viewer into a response like hmm, I could do with a drink or a cigarette because I do and I am sure advertisers do, they call them triggers. Although I am not sure we are really talking about negative space in its true context we are talking about the power of imagery. Very interesting Frederick, thank you.
I really liked this explanation and the graphics went a long way to making it make more sense.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Hi Ken, we have not met before so nice to meet you and thank you for the reassurance it helps a lot, Ted.
Your intel reminded me that the idea of negative space isn't something people usually think about when they look at art. Negative space has a defined shape in exactly the same way that other objects in a painting or photograph have. Thanks for describing it so well.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Hi Julie, nice to meet you and thank you very much for your supportive contrabution, Ted.
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