Using blank space in your drawings
Sometimes a blank space says…
a lot.
In drawing, it is often tempting to fill up every last bit of space on the page, but remember: less is more. A blank space can:
> Imply a background, from a misty infinity to snow banks to blank walls.
> Serve as part of your composition, creating interesting shapes in itself.
> Counteract a busy subject matter.
> Be as arresting to the eye as the subject matter itself.
> Save you an awful lot of time.
> And make you look like you really know what you’re doing.
Honestly - try it. Today’s task: Choose your subject, and draw it in detail. But leave plenty of white space somewhere in the picture.
Here’s mine. Rather a poor picture at the end of a long day at work, I’m afraid - but it does illustrate my point, I think. I tried to concentrate all the detail on the figure. One nice side effect is that nothing is trying to compete with the patterns on her hat and shirt.
Posted: July 20th, 2007 under Technique, Composition.
Comments: 2
2 Comments
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Thinking on this one, it’s like the off-centre positioning, something I wouldn’t have thought of doing on my own. Usually when I scan my pictures I crop them so the picture’s right in the middle, but I was thinking about using blank space while I drew this monster and I’m pleased with the effect. The picture wouldn’t have looked nearly as good if I’d cropped it in the usual way.
Hooray! Drawanyway delivering Effective Sketching Solutions, there.