This document discusses positive and negative space in art. Positive space refers to the main subjects or areas of interest in a work, while negative space is the area around and behind the positive spaces. The shapes of the negative spaces are determined by the shapes of the positive spaces. Sometimes determining positive from negative space can be tricky, as one subject can sometimes occupy both positive and negative space.

1. Positive and Negative
Space

2. Space and shape, two of the elements of design, work together to form a finished
work of art. There are two kinds of space: positive and negative. Positive spaces
are those occupied by the main subjects of the work. The negative spaces are the
areas around and behind the positive spaces. Negative space can also be
referred to as the background.

3. positive space is the areas in a work
of art that are the subjects, or
areas of interest
negative space is area around the
subjects, or areas of interest.

4. Sometimes figuring our
which is positive and which
is negative is tricky…What
do you see?
If you are seeing a vase,
then you are seeing the
white area as the positive
space, the faces, the black.

5. The shapes of the negative spaces are determined by the shapes of the positive
spaces
MC Escher was a master at manipulating positive and negative space.

8. Sometimes one subject
can be both..

9. Notan
Notan is a Japanese word for light-dark, and consists of a two value
arrangement of shapes. It can be used to define and simplify shape and
value patterns.
Notan designs are not based on how we actually see the world; they are
constructs that we can use to see and strengthen value patterns.
Notan requires us to make decisions about whether mid-tones will be
grouped with dark or light. This allows for a more flexible approach to
thinking about design.

10. All values are either white or black.

11. Today’s Project
Simple first…

12. Then we will get a little more complicated...