When you’re drawing, it’s natural to want to concentrate on the positive space that is, the shape of the actual object or objects you’re trying to draw. It’s less natural, yet just as important, to draw the negative space, or the shapes surrounding an object. Every drawing has positive and negative spaces, and both must be well rendered for your drawing to be successful.
Draw the Positive and the Negative Shapes
In this sketch, the trees are the positive spaces and the lighter areas around them are the negative spaces. As you draw, look at the shapes created by the positive and negative spaces. Both should form the basis of your sketch.
Eucalyptus Sketch
Soft charcoal pencil on rough drawing paper
11" × 12" (28cm × 30cm)