When you can identify positive and negative spaces inside a drawing space, you can draw what you see more accurately. This article illustrates the process of drawing objects by identifying and drawing three different types of spaces.

Preview lesson B01 - Positive and Negative Spaces

Huh...never thought about looking at things that way. Nice...can't wait to learn more!

Loved this lesson! I've had positive and negative space explained before but this really broke it down for me. Looking forward to trying it out for myself.

I am still a little confused about this lesson.

This was a good lesson. Looking forward to the next one.

Chris

It's enlightening to see something that I do automatically broken down into clearly understandable steps.

this is amazing its like im in class but at
home onmy laptop reading a lesson on my own

A long time ago, someone (don't remember who) I heard or read described 'the concept of negative
space' using a metaphor from cartoons: If Bugs Bunny were in a hurry to leave a certain place and
in so big a hurry, he did not open the door the usual way; he'd crash through the door, then leave a
Buge Bunny-sized hole in the door. Now, imagine what would happen if your thumbnail disappeared
and left a thumbnail-sized hole in your thumb...GRUESOME, ISN'T IT ! ! !

What a gift for the new year. Thank you so much for having this site. My goal for this year is to draw something from real life. I will be on your site everyday learning as much as I can. I already have gotten a great deal of help from your site in just a couple of days. Again Thank You;
Sandy Henry
windy1@genevaonline.com

Great lesson.

Hello Old Dad;
Your little guy looks great what was your problem about the lesson?

I enjoyed the clear language in this lesson, and Brenda showed me a simple way to extract spaces from photos. Now on to flickr and do some exercises!

It seems like an enormous effort to see! But it helps to know what to look for. That's how this lesson helped me. Now I'll just keep on practising.

This lesson made more progress to my drawing skills than I did since my interest in drawing appeared - 7 years ago! Thank you!

This is a must for all new artists, of any medium. A very well presented and valuable tutorial. Thank you Brenda.

I had forgotten how much fun drawing was, I've done the boy, fish & flower today & if I have time the swan is my afternoon project. Fab site.

after reading this lesson i understand drawing is simple if in shapes.
i ll keep practicing .

Thnx To U

Never think about it >.>

I found this lesson such a great help and I now can't wait to put this lesson into practice.

Thank you so much Brenda.

i am slightly confused on the lesson though... if we're learning how to see then why break down the subject into basic shapes? wouldn't that just make the artist more likely to draw a "symbollic" form of the subject rather than what he/she is seeing in front of them?

Great lesson! I've read about Negative/Positive Spaces before but never quite understood it's use till now. Can't wait for the next lesson. Thanks Brenda!

I enjoyed this lesson but i think i need more practice shading as my boy looks like a werewolf!

wow, a whole new way to see the world around me, what i am seeing is just so much more clear and so much more detailed now. thank you for such a well described explanation.

Great lesson, I already knew some of these techniques but
others I didn't.

Thanks a bunch for this great lesson !!

Nice but not great lesson!!!

for me this lessoned offered alot !! now i get most the proportions right !!

Thank you so much i found it very rewarding. I am new to the site and looking forward to more drawing lessons.
Lucia

Alguém poderia me dizer na minha lingua
se este curso funciona de verdade!?
queria muito aprender a desenhar. [font=Arial Black][i]

Helps Alot Thank you

Absolutely fantastic.. Examples and illastrations are very well presented. Everything is easy to understand.

Great way to train the mind. Thanks.

i followed the example exercise here of the swan...
let me know what you think

to ms. brenda,
thanks you so much for this site

this is my swan...or so i hope
my first attempt at drawing

Wow, just with the first lesson i have already learned more then i have ever known. Thank you for supplying us with such a vast supply of information!

Here's my swan, and it is my first attempt to draw since I was a child. This site got me back to drawing. Many many thanks Brenda!!! [attachmentid=10344]

am i suppose to draw this
or is it just for understanding
purposes?

I think it doesn't hurt to give it a shot, trying to draw the swan, but mainly she wanted to teach you how to draw something by seeing the shapes that it's made up of, and to see the negative & positive spaces around it. Personally, I didn't bother with the swan, moved on to the next lessons, but apparently many people chose to draw it. Good luck to you! --Melinda

Painting for me is a great way to express thoughts, dreams and feelings . I don’t know why, but three years ago I stopped painting at all. For the last five months I started painting again but I feel that I lost my touch . I don’t have the same perspective on things any more . So I decided to start from the beginning again and this lesson was a great start for me .So thank you [size="4"][/size]

" I think this lesson is very needful for all artist to know. I like the way it was illustrated and explained...in such a simple way, but very effective. Thanks"

Hello,
I learned so much! Thanks and I look forward to buying your books.
I am going to share this with my grandchildren.
annepositive and Negativette

This is a good lesson as well. I think I may try to draw the swan just for fun.

This lesson was great, I drew the boy and the swan and for the first time since I started learning I was actually showing my work to people. The lesson itself really helped me learn to guage proportion better! I love this site!

Super lesson. Going to try drawing the swan. Thanks so much for the lessons. Looking forward to going through all the other material. GREAT TEACHER. Thanks.

I've just clicked on to your page. very good.
I'm just a beginner and hope to learn as much as I can
Thank you
Aussie Pug

i know begin to look for positive and negative spaces everywhere
thanks for instructions. my swan is looking pretty angry, but its ok

Anyone had problem getting the proportions and basic shapes down? Like, the circle of the swan is to big, or it's no egg shaped, or it's very skinny, and the like. Always erasing and reworking back. My swan is looking terribly. But good lesson nevertheless.

i heard of poistive and negative but i learned it more today and i 'm planing to draw the boy , this is such a good lesson i can't stop sreaming in my head i'm nuts but do you think i should try it?

I still thinking of doing the positive and negative spaces SOON SOON SOON SOON SOON SOON SOON SOON SOON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i'll post later if i just to do it