Defining Space In Art

Space in Art is broken into two complimenting components. Positive space focuses on the subject within art.

Negative space can play multiple roles. At times it can be empty space that surrounds the subject and at others hold greater focus in storytelling.

How these two interact create a flow in how the artwork is perceived. Additionally all elements within art exist within these two components of space as a composition to the vision of the artist.

No matter how space is used it ultimately will also apply the concept of convergence in art. Convergence gives order and structure to both negative and positive space.

Why Is Space Important?

It is through the use of space that perspective in art is gained in how a work is seen. This perspective can have multiple implications impacting areas such as the scale in art.

One implication can be as simple as the vantage point of viewing much like how a camera angle can alter perspective of an image. This is one of the more common uses in understanding space.

How space is used should always bring unity in art for the sum of the parts within objects and the subject. The Harmony between the objects aids in creating the balance building towards Unity.

Space in art can be used to further its message and impression upon a viewer. How it is used can draw the eyes to a focal point within the work.

This focus can be in either the positive space or the negative. How the artist wishes to communicate their work will depend on its use.

Another major use for space is for the purpose of creating depth with shading or perception of light. Here a work can move beyond a mere sketch and into an art which has greater depths of field.

In film art the space can be seen as being inferred from image to image or cut to cut.

Allowing for the negative space to serve in this way adds a compliment to the subject and other elements. It also can serve well for adding rhythm to art in how it is used.

An additional function is found in its ability have dimensional illusion on a two dimensional work. Objects use the negative space to allow a more three dimensional rendering.

Color plays an important part in this process. The value of a color will aid in the illusion of both light and dimension of objects. It is a part of the perception which gives the viewer an ability to be drawn to what the artist wishes their eyes to focus on.

Using Positive Space

Within art it seems that rules are made to be broken. Artistic expression will often find a way to blend ideas into something new.

Nevertheless most often it is the subject which dominates the positive space. This is not always true but more often than not it is the most common use.

If a subject is subdued other elements become the focus of the positive space. Here what is the subject can become a point of argument, yet much will depend upon the artists intention.

Nevertheless works of this nature are interesting in how space is used.

Commonly the subject will dominate one side of a work if not at the center. Its surrounding composition with its symbols then fills in around it. It is a way of storytelling by a visual means requiring thought and insight.

Using Negative Space

Negative space can often be thought of as a void. Where a composition is left open is easy to identify. This space is where additional effects often are implemented for depth and lighting.

Nevertheless negative space can also be used in other ways. When expressing emotions the obscurity and lack of clarity which negative space offers becomes an opportunity for the storytelling.

This requires greater appreciation and study of a work to gain deeper meaning.

Additionally this space can be used asymmetrically within the art. This offers dynamics to create a flow or pull in one direction within a work. When done well it is a powerful component in art.

More commonly in drawings and painting the negative space is essential for creating perspective and depth. Distance between relating objects gives a realistic feel and appearance.

A setting can be natural and appear true to life.

Can Art Have Only Positive Space?

Representational art is the most often recognized art which utilizes positive space. Many will see its use and never take notice of how the artist has accomplished their work.

There are works which only possess positive space. Nonrepresentational art is where one can find this in. As it is more abstract the composition and color use can fill the work so that no negative space can be found.

While this is not as common in other art forms it does exist. Nevertheless within abstract works negative space is still often present.

Here the color value plays a critical role in aiding to determine this.

Within this type of art negative space is often not seen as a void. Rather contour or depth is used in association with the color in order to give a desired perspective.

How does this work?

Monochrome Art And Its Use Of Space In Art

Within monochrome art we see this function come into play in a more clear way for understanding. In this example let’s use black and white as our colors.

It is far more common for black to be the color of the subject. White which surrounds the subject would be the negative space.

What this has done is to create a silhouette. It is a very simple concept using two colors for defining positive and negative space. Yet what happens when this is reversed?

If the subject is white and the negative space is black the eyes are immediately drawn to the work in a different way. This is called figure ground reversal using color through Juxtaposition.

There are times when this is critical in communicating to the public.

Most often this is used in typography to make letters easier to read than using all capital letters. The way in which the negative space forms around the lower case letters allows the eyes to grab them with more speed and ease of reading.

Within art this same concept can be used in subtle ways. It allows the viewer to quickly grab the essence of the work and gain the focus of where the artist wishes the eyes to fall.

It is also a clever way to draw attention away from a foreground and into the background of where a hidden subject may be present.

Balancing Positive And Negative Space

While there are visual illusions which can be gained from the use of positive and negative space to convey a message it all comes back to balance. How the space is balanced will determine the clarity of the composition.

The balance has more involved than merely the proportional use of space. Here the use of color in its hue, value, and intensity become critical to the composition.

This is especially true when art is mimicking a three dimensional space in more real to life works.

If balance only dealt with proportional use of space then art would be quite bland. Outside of color comes a critical element within art to further define balance. It is the use of a line and it merits its own discussion in how it applies to balance.

To further this principle of balance we must look to understanding the line concept surrounding shapes and form.

How Shape And Form Impact Space In Art

Shape is defined in two dimensional form in art and are composed of lines in height and width. Form defined by lines in a three dimensional form is comprised of height, width, and depth.

The use of the line within a composition also impacts this space. A work which has a vertical composition will give the effect of greater height and importance.

Architectural works of things such as cathedrals will immediately draw out certain emotions.

The use of horizontal lines within a space can give an altogether different feel. It has a sense of rest and being open such as within landscapes. In objects horizontal lines can give the impact of solidity and firmness or strength.

Diagonal lines will often give a feel of movement to a desired direction. It is a way to create not only depth but also direction within art. The space is utilized in a way so that one feels pulled in that direction towards something.

It becomes easy to see how the use of space with the associated elements of art play a role in creating balance. While proportional use of space to find balance is important there is much more which goes on within a composition.

Lines Define Space

It is the line which ultimately defines the space within any artwork. How the lines are used become a critical component to what is positive space or what is negative space. Without the line it would not exist except within a nonrepresentational form.

Understanding lines within art will greatly expand ones ability to use space to create a work that communicates a story as one desires. The message of a work will become clear as one masters this element within art.

Of the elements within art the line prevails as one of the most critical. It can exist within its own right to define art by controlling space even when other elements are not present such as color.

Creating A Story Within Art Using Space In Art

The appearance of a subject within its positive space can be its own story. It may speak to the present personal condition of the object.

Yet the negative space through using other elements of art can tell an altogether different story.

The negative space holds the power to share and communicate much more than the subject if an artist desires. This is especially true of more emotional works.

This negative space can display what the subject has been through, or is being pushed towards.

It is here that one can begin to give more power to the negative space to create impressions. The subject becomes more the message of the impression than the actual subject used within the work itself.

Here you discover multiple layers within art that can have magnificent impact. Elements are used to build upon principles of art. Each must be used within space.

Every emotion which we know can be brought out in this way. The art can have a personal meaning and definition. It is through the use of space that people are moved and not merely the focus on a single subject.

Experimenting With Space In Art

While this article merely scratches the surface in terms of what space in art is, the artist deserves more than a mere definition. Across the internet one can find many locations where it is defined with little explanation.

Ultimately the use of space requires experimentation with the elements of art. It is the only way to truly begin understanding its uses and how it can impact your artwork.

There is a hidden beauty to space in art for one can be indulgent or minimalist. Both can convey the same or a similar message. It is a matter of the volume in which the message is spoken and the focus desired from the artist.

A void in space can speak to the isolation of the subject. Alternatively a calamity can be depicted to show greater depth of what the subject has endured. What would an artist desire in drawing greater focus in either case can be defined by the use of this space.

The Most Critical Element Within Art

I personally believe that the use of space within art is the most critical element one can use. Color can be optional. Form and shape can also be minimized or distorted and obscure.

While all elements play a role within art no other can command the audience so much as space will. Mastering its use can take what is otherwise a plain work of art and turn it into a masterpiece of great impact.

While the artists ideas and emotions are most often the story and message which we wish to convey, space is of the most important in the storytelling. If I were to suggest to an artist on where to focus first in experimenting within art it would be here.

Adding other elements into their works with time can elevate their art to newer heights and places. Nevertheless understanding and using space will be the cornerstone of their work and how well they communicate to an audience.

One may also gain perspective through art appreciation by studying others works who have come before us. There is a wealth of information to be gleaned from artists of history. Take the time to see their methods and use of space and how it impacted their work along with the people around them.