How to Draw Negative Space

Positive space describes the object that you are drawing, for example the tree in your garden.

Negative space is the space around an object.

A successful composition when taking a picture or planning an artwork takes negative and positive space into account.

Negative space enhances the positive space, sometimes creating a rhythm in which your eye peacefully passes through an image.

If the negative space is cluttered with information, the eye cannot find a place to rest and reflect.

You can choose to draw one tree or a forest of trees.

When drawing more than one tree, we consider the relationships between stems and branches; how close or how far away the trees from each other or what is larger in the foreground compared to the trees in the distance.

Often it is easiest to understand negative and positive space when you look at trees in silhouette; dusk and dawn.

First, draw the contour outlines of the trees in pencil.

Then, decide if you want to hatch or cross-hatch the background with a black pen or a pencil.

You may want to have a darker tone closer to the ground, becoming lighter as you shade in between the branches.

Become creative with your negative space, using patterns, colours or odd designs in the ‘space between’.

Have FUN celebrating the positive qualities of negative space!