CONTOUR DRAWING
We are conditioned to see the shapes of things rather
than the shapes of the spaces between them. While we
normally perceive spatial voids as having no substance,
they share the same edges as the objects they
separate or envelop. The positive shapes offigures and
the shapeless spaces of backgrounds share the same
boundaries and combine to form an inseparable
whole-a unity of opposites.
In drawing, also, negative shapes share the contour
lines that define the edges of positive shapes. The
format and composition of adrawing consists of
positive and negative shapes that fit together like the
interlocking pieces of ajigsaw puzzle.ln both seeing and
drawing, we should raise the shapes of negative spaces
to t hesame level of importance as the positive shapes
of figures and see them as equal partners in the
relationship. Since negative shapes do not always have
the easily recognizable qualities of positive shapes,
they can be seen only if we make the effort.
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We should carefully observe t he interconnected
nature of positive and negative shapes.
• As we draw the edges of positive shapes, we should
also be aware of the negative shapes we are creating.
• Focusing on the shapes of these negative spaces
prevents us from t hinking consciously about what
the positive shapes represent, and we are free to
draw them purely as two-dimensional figures.
FREEHAND DRAWING
I 189