Art Adventure: Postive and Negative Space

This one is geared to an elementary (or older) student. In art we talk about positive and negative space. Typically, positive space is the figure you have drawn and negative space is the background. Though there are ways artists play around with that, we don't need to get too tricky here. But this project will help us think about how we normally look at positive and negative space.

Positive/Negative

Supplies:

• white paper
• pencil
• ruler
• marker (one color only)

Have your child draw a picture that takes up much of the page, but try to keep it somewhat simple. Not too many details. Gabe drew a big tree for his picture.

Help your child draw a straight line, using a ruler or other straight edge, from one corner diagonally to another corner.

On one side of the line, your child will color in the positive space. So anything that is not background. You can leave some space if you have objects touching, to create a white line if needed.

On the other side of the line, your child will color in the negative space. So anything that is considered background.

Your picture will be opposites. Just use one color. We don't need to complicate it too much. Using one color will help you focus on what is positive space and what is negative space.

Gabe thinks the picture looked "kind of weird" but also "cool." :)

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