I. Vocabulary of Space
a. These words all indicate positions in space –
Above
Below
Around
Behind
Into
Through
II. Dimensions
a. Space refers to the three-dimensionality of sculpture and architecture.
b. It can also refer to the sense of depth in two-dimensional artwork.
III. Key Vocabulary & Definitions
a. Positive space – the areas containing the subject matter in artwork; the objects depicted, as opposed to the background or space around those objects.
b. Negative space – the areas of an artwork not occupied by subject matter, but which contribute to the composition. In two-dimensional art, the negative space is usually the background.
c. Picture plane – the flat surface of a composition.
d. Composition – the arrangement of elements such as line, value, and form within an artwork; principles of design are considered in order to achieve a successful composition.
e. Vanishing point – in a composition featuring linear perspective, that spot on the horizon toward which parallel lines appear to converge and at which they disappear.
f. Perspective – an artist’s representation of a three-dimensional world on a two-dimensional surface.
g. Linear perspective – the technique by which artists create the illusion of depth on a flat surface. All parallel lines of projection converge at the vanishing point, and associated objects are rendered smaller the farther from the viewer they are intended to seem.
h. Abstract – art that emphasizes design, or whose basic character has little visual reference to real or natural things.
i. Nonrepresentational - art that has no recognizeable subject matter, that does not depict real or natural things in any way. Also called nonobjective art.
IV. Three-Dimensional Space
a. An object has 3-dimensional space if it has height, width, and depth
b. Some architectural spaces are designed so you can walk in and around them.
1. Positive & Negative Space
a. Positive space is the object or structure itself, such as a statue
b. Negative space is the area surrounding the object or structure, such as the blue sky and clouds that might be around the statue.
2. Flowing Space
a. Divisions between inside and outside space is not always clear
b. Sculptures and other 3-D forms constructed with wire or glass or pierced with holes are examples of flowing space
c. Such works tend to break the boundaries between positive and negative space as your eyes move into, around, and through the form.
V. Two-Dimensional Space
a. The surface of a floor, a tabletop, a sheet of cardboard, or a piece of paper can be described in terms of two-dimensions: height and width…surface has no depth
b. The Picture Plane – the flat surface on which an artist works
c. Composition – the organization of elements and their placement on the picture plane
d. Point Of View – determines how a structure appears in space
VI. Creating the Illusion of Depth
a. Non-linear methods – position of the object higher on a page to make it seem farther away.
b. Overlapping – placement of one shape on top of another
c. Size Variation – combination of similar objects of different sizes; smaller sizes will seem farther away.
d. Color – a shape of bold color on a more neutral-colored background will make the bolder color push forward.
e. Value – lighter values tend to recede behind darker ones
VII. Linear Perspective
a. Method of depicting three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface
b. Vanishing point – when straight lines are parallel and they seem to move away from the viewer and meet at a point in the distance.
c. One-point perspective – artists use linear perspective in combination with a single vanishing point
d. Two-point perspective– uses parallel lines that seem to lead to two different vanishing points set far apart
VIII. Subjective Space
a. Using imagination and emotion to manipulate and transform space and reality creates subjective spaces that bear little resemblance to reality
b. Space that Deceives – may cause you to question whether the space depicted is flat or 3-D, or whether the composition could actually occur in space and time as we know it.
c. Cubism – depicts objects that usually resemble squares, or cubes that seem both to stand straight up and to slant toward the viewer.
d. Cubists – are subjective artists who flattened space, fractured forms, experimented with color and added lines where none usually exist
e. The cubist treatment of space is contrary to nature and the camera lens, allowing an artist to share imagination and creative energy
f. Abstract – if depicted at all, object and figures are difficult to recognize in their paintings, drawings, sculptures, and other creations
g. Nonrepresentational Art – works in which no objects or figures appear
