Art Elements

Space Vocabulary

The element of art that refers to the emptiness or area between, around, above, below, or within objects.

Definition

Shapes and forms are defined by space around and within them.

There are two types of space: • Positive• Negative

2 Types of Space

The shapes themselves are called “positive” shapes or “positive” space.

2 Types of SpacePositive Space

“positive” shapes

“positive” shapes

“positive” space

The spaces around the subject are called “negative” shapes or “negative” space.

2 Types of SpaceNegative Space “negative” space

“negative”shapes

“negative” space

“negative” space

A lot of times negative spaces are depicted as empty, white or black areas…

Negative Space

2 Types of Space

…in the real world, however, things get much more interesting…

Negative Space

2 Types of Space

…negative spaces won’t look blank unless your subject is positioned against a white surface…

Negative Space

2 Types of Space

…in fact, a negative space

may actually be filled with lots of detail, perhaps even includingsmaller negative spaces.

Negative Space

2 Types of Space

if you spread your hand on a tabletop, the areas between your fingers are negative spaces

your hand and fingers themselves are positive shapes

If you put your hand on your hip, you’ll create a triangular negative shape between your body and your arm. 

2 Types of Space

Example:

The feeling of space in a drawing or painting is always an illusion. 

Illusion of Space

Artists use various techniques to achieve illusion in their art.

Let’s see how each is used to create the illusion of space in flat, two-dimensional objects like paintings or drawing...

Illusion of Space

…combining the use of light and dark value…

Illusion of Space

…simple overlapping…

Illusion of Space

In simple overlapping a figure partially hides an object that’s supposed to be behind it. Since our eyes

are easily fooled, we

willingly agree that one is

closer, the other is further away.

…ladder perspective…

figures at the top of the page

seem to be further away,

and are sometimes

smaller in scale than things that

are closer to enhance the

illusion.

Illusion of Space

…linear perspective…

is a geometric, mathematical method using receding lines that move toward a vanishing

point. 

Illusion of Space

…linear perspective…

Illusion of Space

…linear perspective…

Illusion of Space

…atmospheric perspective…

Illusion of Space

atmospheric perspective whereby objects in the distance

seem bluish-gray, dimmer and

blurred, or varying warm and cool colors

which seem to recede or advance.

…atmospheric perspective…

Illusion of Space

Illusion of Space in 3-D SculptureSpace actually and easily exists in sculpture, because sculpture is three-dimensional.

Frederic Remington, The Bronco Buster, limited edition #17 of 20, 1909

Henry Moore, Reclining Figure, 1951, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

Remember that paintings and drawings are two-dimensional. They have length and width. They are flat.

Illusion of Space in 3-D Sculpture

The painter of the old harbor – Honfleur (France)

Sculpture has length, width, and depth, the third dimension.

They are 3-D forms.

Illusion of Space in 3-D Sculpture

There are two types of sculpture:  Relief Sculptureand

Free-Standing or Sculpture in the Round

Illusion of Space in 3-D Sculpture

Figures emerge from a backing surface. Reliefs are often carved from a single block of material like marble, clay or wood. How far the figures emerge from the backing surface is described as high relief, middle relief low relief sunk relief 

Illusion of Space in 3-D Sculpture

…relief sculpture…

sunk reliefmiddle relief

high relief

low relief

Sculpture is not attached to a backing surface, and viewers can walk entirely around the object, viewing it from many different angles. If you could walk behind a relief sculpture, you’d only see a blank surface.

Illusion of Space in 3-D Sculpture

…free standing sculpturealso know as

free standing sculpture…

Mind Map of Elements

Add Space and descriptive words, phrases and examples

to your Mind Map of Elements.

Pass Out TicketTell me about the space you see in this painting.