Visual Elements of Art: Space

The Art of Space

• Artists use space to create the illusion of depth and emphasis.

• Manipulating space involves making distant objects appear smaller.

Positive and Negative Space

• Space is the distance around or between objects.

• Positive space: Area occupied by objects.

• Negative space: Area where objects do not exist.

• Ambiguity can arise when distinguishing between positive and negative space, leading to different perceptions.

Symbolic Expression Through Visual Elements like Space

• Artists use spatial arrangements to express ideas symbolically.

• Example: Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night."

  • The arrangement of stars, the horizon line, and cypress trees convey symbolic importance.

  • Overlapping elements establish connections between the foreground and the sky while separating the village below.

Shade and Shadow

• Shade and shadow can be used to manipulate space.

• Adding shadows creates a sense of depth and three-dimensional shape.

• Shadow: dark area when light is blocked out.

Sfumato

• Sfumato: A technique used to create a hazy effect, popular among Italian painters.

• Involves subtle gradations of light and dark to create an illusion of fog and depth.

• Example: Correggio's ceiling painting, "The Assumption of the Virgin."

Modeling

• Modeling: Using value to create the illusion of depth.

• Involves using shades and shadows to create shapes.

• Example: Michelangelo's "The Holy Family."

  • Michelangelo, a master of sculpture, used his understanding of three-dimensional forms to model with paint.

  • Sculpting with paint; use of light and dark.

Space Analysis in Painting: "The Raft of the Medusa" by Theodore Jericho

• Jericho used a classical triangular configuration to create a balanced composition.

• Overlapping shapes and spatial arrangements draw attention to specific elements.

• The artist employs variety in elements like color and posture to emphasize the symbolic importance of a figure waving for rescue.

Review of Key Concepts

• Positive and negative space

• Symbolic expression through visual elements (e.g., Van Gogh's "Starry Night")

• Delineation of visual elements in works of art (e.g., Jericho's "The Raft of the Medusa")

Applying Spatial Awareness

• Encouragement to analyze space in artworks and consider its impact.

• Thinking about the size and placement of objects, and how they make us feel.

• Consider how you might be able to use space if you were to create a work of art of your own to communicate a specific message.

Key Vocabulary Terms

• Modeling: The use of value to create the illusion of depth. Modeling can create more realistic artwork.

• Space: The distance or area between, around, above, below, and within objects. The artist made good use of space in the arrangement of objects.

• Depth: The measurement or sense of distance from an observation point. Depth is created by making objects that are farther away smaller.

• Distance: How far away something is or appears to be. Making an object smaller gives the appearance of distance.

• Negative space: Empty space between shapes and forms. Negative space gives the eye rest between objects.

• Mass: The effect or degree of bulk, density, or weight of a three-dimensional form. The mass of the sculpture was close to a ton.

• Shading: Showing a change from light to darken an object by darkening areas that would have a shadow. Shading gives a flat object the illusion of form.

• Shade: To darken the color by adding black. Navy is a shade of blue.

• Shadow: Area of dark created when an object blocks light. A shadow can create both depth and mystery in artwork.

• Sfumato: Italian term for graduations of light and shadow to produce a hazy effect. Sfumato can give a subtle impression of movement in art.