Exercise Negative Drawing Techniques
Level: Intermediate Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 8.0 Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 65.4 Drawspace Curriculum 3.3.A4 - 4 Pages and 6 Illustrations
Exercise Negative
Drawing Techniques Use negative spaces to help train your brain and vision to automatically see white while drawing black
Resources: •
3.3.R3 Negative Space as a Positive
•
3.3.R4 Understanding Negative Drawing
Supplies: drawing paper, 2B pencil, pencil sharpener, vinyl art eraser, kneaded eraser (or Blu-Tack)
This activity has two exercises: • Exercise 1: Draw Positive and Negative Lines • Exercise 2: Draw Negative Spaces from Life
Exercise 1: Draw Positive and Negative Lines This quick exercise is well worth the effort, so try it at least a few times. The technique might at first appear too obvious, but that simple shift of focus from viewing dark to white can transform the way you draw. 1. Draw three parallel lines a pencil-lead width apart (Figure 1). Figure 1
ISBN: 978-1-77193-254-7 Copyright © 2016 Mike Sibley (http://www.sibleyfineart.com) and Drawspace Publishing (http://www.drawspace.com). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of an educators’ license from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Mike Sibley and Drawspace Publishing.
2
3.3.A4: Exercise Negative Drawing Techniques
Trick question: How many lines did you just draw? The answer is five – three dark and two white. If the white lines are parts of the subject, the dark lines represent the negative spaces that surround them. 2. Draw three lines again, but as closely together as you can (Figure 2). Figure 2
3. Draw three lines a third time by looking only at the white lines you are creating ‒ not at the dark lines you are drawing (Figure 3). Notice that you can create a much narrower white line this way. Why? It has to do with the feedback from your brain. When you concentrate on the pencil line you are drawing, you draw a positive line and treat the white line as negative space. Your brain concentrates only on keeping the two dark lines parallel with each other. It’s almost as though the white line is in your peripheral vision.
Tip! When drawing, you must be as aware of the white spaces as you are of the marks you are making.
Tip! When you can easily see white as you draw black, you can break down any drawing into manageable sections and also preserve the white of the paper.
When you look at the white line, the feedback that your brain is sending to your hand is now focussed on the width of that white line. The white line becomes a positive space, and the dark line is merely the negative space that defines the edge of the white line. In fact, you are hardly aware of the dark line at all, just its edge. Figure 3
Exercise 2: Draw Negative Spaces from Life This exercise helps to prepare your brain for drawing. It is designed to fool your logical mind – the part that attempts to identify everything it sees. You challenge your mind by not drawing an object itself, but, you shade the empty space around it instead. 1. On a single sheet of paper, practice drawing familiar objects from life such as those in Figures 4 and 5.
ISBN: 978-1-77193-254-7 Copyright © 2016 Mike Sibley (http://www.sibleyfineart.com) and Drawspace Publishing (http://www.drawspace.com). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of an educators’ license from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Mike Sibley and Drawspace Publishing.
3.3.A4: Exercise Negative Drawing Techniques
Figure 4
Keep your drawings small and manageable – small enough so you can “see” each object without having to move your eyes. Take note that the abstract, negative shapes in Figures 4 and 5 share a continuous border with the positive object. So, when you shade the negative space, you also create the positive outline. Your goal is to shade up to these contours while leaving the object white. When you can clearly identify the edges, your pencil will stop there.
Figure 5
Caution! Don’t draw lines around the objects first! If you do, you’ll just be shading around a positive shape, not shading the negative space to cause the positive image to appear. Also, don’t fall into the trap of shading parallel to any side of your emerging object – that’s just as bad as outlining. Shade by stealth! To benefit most from this exercise, try to use slanted lines and keep that angle throughout (as shown in Figures 4 and 5).
Visually work your way around each object. Imagine that object’s edges at various points as you examine the contours.
As an Aside No matter what skill level you ultimately attain, you will always find drawings that exceed your own abilities. We all begin at the same point – we just take our own time to reach our full potential. Just relax and enjoy yourself!
Now, imagine the object on your drawing paper and shade around it.
Challenge! Check out the drawing in Figure 6 (on the next page) and examine the contents of the negative space surrounding the dog. Then, identify the edges between the negative space and the dog. These edges can be used to outline the contours of the dog.
ISBN: 978-1-77193-254-7 Copyright © 2016 Mike Sibley (http://www.sibleyfineart.com) and Drawspace Publishing (http://www.drawspace.com). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of an educators’ license from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Mike Sibley and Drawspace Publishing.
3
4
3.3.A4: Exercise Negative Drawing Techniques
Happy drawing!
Figure 6
Cheers.....
Drawing from Line to Life by Mike Sibley • Foreword by renowned Artist David Shepherd • Over 280 pages of pencil drawing tips, tutorials, demonstrations and much more... • More than 625 illustrations • Tools, techniques, methods • Step-by-step instructions • For the Novice and Advanced student • From pure line drawing through to near-reality
Based on Mike’s experience of over 30 years as a professional artist and graphite pencil specialist.
www.SibleyFineArt.com/pencil-drawing-book.htm
ISBN: 978-1-77193-254-7 Copyright © 2016 Mike Sibley (http://www.sibleyfineart.com) and Drawspace Publishing (http://www.drawspace.com). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of an educators’ license from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Mike Sibley and Drawspace Publishing.
Exercise Negative
Drawing Techniques Use negative spaces to help train your brain and vision to automatically see white while drawing black
Resources: •
3.3.R3 Negative Space as a Positive
•
3.3.R4 Understanding Negative Drawing
Supplies: drawing paper, 2B pencil, pencil sharpener, vinyl art eraser, kneaded eraser (or Blu-Tack)
This activity has two exercises: • Exercise 1: Draw Positive and Negative Lines • Exercise 2: Draw Negative Spaces from Life
Exercise 1: Draw Positive and Negative Lines This quick exercise is well worth the effort, so try it at least a few times. The technique might at first appear too obvious, but that simple shift of focus from viewing dark to white can transform the way you draw. 1. Draw three parallel lines a pencil-lead width apart (Figure 1). Figure 1
ISBN: 978-1-77193-254-7 Copyright © 2016 Mike Sibley (http://www.sibleyfineart.com) and Drawspace Publishing (http://www.drawspace.com). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of an educators’ license from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Mike Sibley and Drawspace Publishing.
2
3.3.A4: Exercise Negative Drawing Techniques
Trick question: How many lines did you just draw? The answer is five – three dark and two white. If the white lines are parts of the subject, the dark lines represent the negative spaces that surround them. 2. Draw three lines again, but as closely together as you can (Figure 2). Figure 2
3. Draw three lines a third time by looking only at the white lines you are creating ‒ not at the dark lines you are drawing (Figure 3). Notice that you can create a much narrower white line this way. Why? It has to do with the feedback from your brain. When you concentrate on the pencil line you are drawing, you draw a positive line and treat the white line as negative space. Your brain concentrates only on keeping the two dark lines parallel with each other. It’s almost as though the white line is in your peripheral vision.
Tip! When drawing, you must be as aware of the white spaces as you are of the marks you are making.
Tip! When you can easily see white as you draw black, you can break down any drawing into manageable sections and also preserve the white of the paper.
When you look at the white line, the feedback that your brain is sending to your hand is now focussed on the width of that white line. The white line becomes a positive space, and the dark line is merely the negative space that defines the edge of the white line. In fact, you are hardly aware of the dark line at all, just its edge. Figure 3
Exercise 2: Draw Negative Spaces from Life This exercise helps to prepare your brain for drawing. It is designed to fool your logical mind – the part that attempts to identify everything it sees. You challenge your mind by not drawing an object itself, but, you shade the empty space around it instead. 1. On a single sheet of paper, practice drawing familiar objects from life such as those in Figures 4 and 5.
ISBN: 978-1-77193-254-7 Copyright © 2016 Mike Sibley (http://www.sibleyfineart.com) and Drawspace Publishing (http://www.drawspace.com). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of an educators’ license from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Mike Sibley and Drawspace Publishing.
3.3.A4: Exercise Negative Drawing Techniques
Figure 4
Keep your drawings small and manageable – small enough so you can “see” each object without having to move your eyes. Take note that the abstract, negative shapes in Figures 4 and 5 share a continuous border with the positive object. So, when you shade the negative space, you also create the positive outline. Your goal is to shade up to these contours while leaving the object white. When you can clearly identify the edges, your pencil will stop there.
Figure 5
Caution! Don’t draw lines around the objects first! If you do, you’ll just be shading around a positive shape, not shading the negative space to cause the positive image to appear. Also, don’t fall into the trap of shading parallel to any side of your emerging object – that’s just as bad as outlining. Shade by stealth! To benefit most from this exercise, try to use slanted lines and keep that angle throughout (as shown in Figures 4 and 5).
Visually work your way around each object. Imagine that object’s edges at various points as you examine the contours.
As an Aside No matter what skill level you ultimately attain, you will always find drawings that exceed your own abilities. We all begin at the same point – we just take our own time to reach our full potential. Just relax and enjoy yourself!
Now, imagine the object on your drawing paper and shade around it.
Challenge! Check out the drawing in Figure 6 (on the next page) and examine the contents of the negative space surrounding the dog. Then, identify the edges between the negative space and the dog. These edges can be used to outline the contours of the dog.
ISBN: 978-1-77193-254-7 Copyright © 2016 Mike Sibley (http://www.sibleyfineart.com) and Drawspace Publishing (http://www.drawspace.com). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of an educators’ license from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Mike Sibley and Drawspace Publishing.
3
4
3.3.A4: Exercise Negative Drawing Techniques
Happy drawing!
Figure 6
Cheers.....
Drawing from Line to Life by Mike Sibley • Foreword by renowned Artist David Shepherd • Over 280 pages of pencil drawing tips, tutorials, demonstrations and much more... • More than 625 illustrations • Tools, techniques, methods • Step-by-step instructions • For the Novice and Advanced student • From pure line drawing through to near-reality
Based on Mike’s experience of over 30 years as a professional artist and graphite pencil specialist.
www.SibleyFineArt.com/pencil-drawing-book.htm
ISBN: 978-1-77193-254-7 Copyright © 2016 Mike Sibley (http://www.sibleyfineart.com) and Drawspace Publishing (http://www.drawspace.com). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of an educators’ license from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Mike Sibley and Drawspace Publishing.
