How are you using negative space in drawing?

One of the most underrated and important aspects of drawing is negative spaces. These can make you either a professional at art or can leave you wondering about the flaws in your current artwork. Negative space in the drawing is simply the shape of the space around the object, or sometimes just a shade. So, to ensure that your drawing is in equilibrium or balanced, instead of observing the positive shape of an object, begin with negative spaces.

Negative spaces may include any background details or patterns, or a simple silhouette.

Let us look at some points to keep in mind while using the negative spaces in drawing

1. Understand the Negative Spaces In Drawing

Question yourself, What is Negative Space in Drawing? Usually, artists think of drawing a negative space as outlining the subject, which is not the right way. Outlining is doing a positive drawing as you are focusing on the positive spaces or solid shapes of the object.

Therefore, it is crucial to understand what positive and negative spaces are in a drawing, to achieve the objective of drawing realistically.

2. Observing the shapes and spaces

Start with observing the shapes or figures forming in between the connecting parts of the object or subject, or with its edges or boundaries.

Through this technique, you will become able to identify and learn to draw the background spaces or shapes forming with the interaction of opposing edges or boundaries of the object. Now, the positive shapes of the object are left un-drawn, and you are left with the actual and correct negative space drawing, which is sort of the reverse of normal positive drawing.

Most of the negative shapes are very easy to observe in any drawing. But, when they are not caught easily, just remember to look for the areas which “don’t belong to the object”.

3. Applying negative space in drawing

Identifying and drawing negative spaces is not an easy skill to develop, but it sure is very essential, especially in terms of true value drawing where you omit the outlining step.

For example, if you are drawing a picture of a crow sitting on the branch of the tree; Here identifying the negative space is necessary as it contains a texture. Here you need to focus on the crow and the branch on which the crow is sitting. In simple words, positive shapes are the objects and negative shapes are the background of the object.

Also, never lose your sight from the size of the shape and the relationship between these shapes.

But remember, don’t begin with the detailing in your drawing right away. Focus only on the shapes that you see and their relationship with other shapes in the foreground and background. Once you are done with it, proceed towards the shading.

These points help to make the sketches look interesting.

A sound understanding of negative space in the drawing is crucial for every art form, doesn’t matter if you’re sketching or painting. Learn such important drawing components with the help of the best online drawing classes and improve your drawing skills.