souldare

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from? (Psalm 121:1 NIV)

A few days ago, I mentioned that I didn’t really know how to explain positive and negative space. And I still don’t really know how to explain it in words. I could go search the internet and give you a definition. But sometimes the best way for me to learn how something works is to just try it. A visual perspective often gives me a better understanding. you can use collage to create a positive space and a use a silhouette to create a negative space.

Two of my students, and artist friends, helped me understand this concept better, with their own perspectives. Janet made this collage and silhouette as part of our class work.

Susan, sent me a helpful explanation and an example of how cutting an intricate snowflake shape demonstrates negative space.

Susan says: The way I understand Negative Space is Empty space, sometimes your mind fills in the space, other times it looks through the empty (perspective), & yet other [times] at the empty. 

If you have another way that you explain positive/negative space, I am open to your perspective. Feel free to share your ideas in the comments.

And now for today’s prompt:

When I don’t know how to do something, I . . .