Using Negative Space in Your Art

Featured Artwork: Faith in My Savior

Artist: Chris Brazelton

Negative space is a great tool in art. It helps make your pictures more powerful and eye-catching. With “Faith in My Savior,” I used negative space to make the scene more impactful and meaningful. Here’s how you can use negative space in your digital art to make it stand out.

 

What is Negative Space?

Negative space, or white space, is the empty area around and between the main parts of a picture. It’s not just “empty space.” It helps shape your artwork, create balance, and guide the viewer’s eyes.

 

1. Drawing Attention to Your Subject

Tip: Use negative space to focus on your main subject.

How: With “Faith in my Savior,” the large white space around Jesus makes Him the center of attention. To do this in your own work, try using a plain background that contrasts with your main subject. This makes your subject pop.

Example: Paint a single tree in a large, open field. The empty space around the tree makes it the focus of the picture.

 

2. Creating Balance

Tip: Balance negative space and your subject to make your picture feel complete.

How: In this piece, the placement of Jesus in the center, surrounded by empty white space, creates a balanced and harmonious composition. Notice how the minimal background complements the figure of Christ, making Him the clear focus. Use this idea in your own art by placing your main subject thoughtfully and letting the empty space around it create a sense of balance.

Example: If you’re painting a scene with several people, position them so there are open spaces between them. This avoids a crowded look and helps your picture feel balanced.

 

3. Adding Emotion

Tip: Use negative space to set the mood.

How: The empty space around Jesus gives a feeling of peace. Think about how your empty spaces can make people feel. Big empty spaces can make people feel calm or thoughtful.

Example: A lone person standing in a large, empty landscape might feel peaceful or lonely, depending on how you use the space.

 

4. Simplifying Your Scene

Tip: Use negative space to make complex pictures easier to understand.

How: In the image of Jesus walking on water, the expansive white space simplifies the scene by focusing entirely on Jesus. The absence of a detailed background prevents distractions, allowing the viewer to concentrate on His figure and the reflective water. To apply this in your own work, try minimizing the background details and using negative space to highlight the main subject, making your artwork clear and impactful.

Example: In a busy city scene, you might use negative space to make a person or a building stand out, just like how the plain background in the image emphasizes Jesus without any distractions.

 

5. Guiding the Viewer’s Eye

Tip: Use negative space to lead people’s eyes through your picture.

How: When thinking about “Faith in My Savior,” I wanted the negative space to help guide the viewer’s eye toward Jesus. The white space around Him creates a natural path for the eyes to follow, starting from the reflective water at His feet up to His welcoming posture and serene expression. You can use a similar approach in your own art by arranging negative space to direct the viewer’s eye toward your main subject, making your composition more engaging and intuitive to explore.

Example: In a landscape, you could use negative space like the empty sky or foreground to draw the viewer’s eye from the front to the back of the scene, just as the white space here leads the viewer’s eye towards the Savior, creating a sense of depth and movement.

 

6. Trying Minimalism

Tip: Use negative space to make simple yet strong pictures.

How:  Some of my other paintings of Jesus walking on water are more photorealistic and colorful. “Faith in My Savior” strips away extra details, focusing on Jesus with a clean, white background. The simple composition and use of negative space make Jesus stand out, creating a powerful, comforting image. In your own work, consider how you can simplify the scene by reducing background details and using negative space to create a strong, focused message.

Example: You might start by painting a single flower on a large, empty background to make it stand out, similar to how the minimalist approach here highlights Jesus against a simple backdrop, making the scene feel both striking and peaceful.

 

Conclusion

When used well, negative space can be a dynamic element that significantly enhances your art. By effectively using negative space, you can create compositions that are balanced, focused, and emotionally compelling. Whether you’re depicting a serene scene like Jesus walking on water or a more complex narrative, let negative space work for you to elevate your artistic expression.

Thank you for reading this tutorial on using negative space in your digital art. I hope you found these tips and techniques helpful as you create your own beautiful and meaningful artwork.

This post is my first attempt at sharing tips and techniques behind my artwork. Did you find this tutorial useful and easy to understand? Do you want to see more tutorials? Are there any other topics you’d like to learn about in future posts? Please let me know in the comments below or reach out to me on Instagram. You can also send an email to paintedgospel@gmail.com. Your thoughts and suggestions help me create better content for you.

If you tried any of the techniques from this tutorial, I’d love to see your work! Feel free to share your art and tag me. Let’s inspire and learn from each other as we share the light of Christ together.