Negative space is the part of the picture that surrounds the “main focus” or the object in the picture. This is also called the background. The subject of the picture is the main thing you can see and has the “biggest” part in a picture. This artwork basically points out the negative and the positive space within the picture.

I found negative space in my cut out by seeing that there are two parts in the simple bird picture. I looked at the contrast between the two colors and saw that the negative space and the “positive” space can be opposite on both sides. I then cut the two papers accordingly to get my end result.

This helps see an artist in negative space because there are no details. It’s only solid pieces and two colors. You can still see what the image is without all the details. Also, since it’s like a mirror image and the colors are reverse, you can see how one part could be either negative or positive no matter how you switch it up.

I don’t think seeing negative space “enhances” drawings. It doesn’t show off the details, if anything it eliminates the details. It almost makes the picture “solid” because you’re only using two colors. You old see the object of the picture and the background (negative space). If anything, negative space makes the picture much more simple.

A. What is negative space (explain this concept to a fourth grader that has never heard of it)

Negative space is pretty much the space around an object. For example, in the photo attached, the blue on the right side is pretty much the negative space. It almost outlines the the tree shape. In other words, negative space is also the space you wouldn’t color if you had to color something for example.

B. Explain how you found negative space in your cut out?

I found negative space by looking out side of the tree and pretty much cut around it as an outline. After that, I went deeper into the negative space that was within the tree. (this would be holes, where you could see through)

C. Why does it help an artist to see in negative space?

It helps an artists to see in negative space because the artists can see the outline of what they are trying to draw. In addition, negative space is just as important is positive space and to incorporate both elements in is key because it guides the viewer’s eye in what the focus is.

D. Does seeing in negative space enhance drawings, why or why not?

Seeing in negative space does indeed enhance drawings because we can see the difference of what an drawing can be. For example, picture may have a vase as its positive space but for its negative space, it looks like two faces.