Negative Space

Low tide ice flow at the harbor

Ever since those very early drawing assignments were given, I have been drawn to finding the negative space in a scene.    I like being able to define an object in space, simply by describing the space around it.  By looking at the negative space surrounding an object, you are less likely to depend on what you think you know of an object and rely more heavily on what you are actually seeing-an important rule of painting from observation.  Often it is the shape of the negative space, and the edge of the air up against form that I look for in a painting. It is through painting the negative space, that the surface of the picture plane becomes an interest in and of itself rather than just the support for the 'subject' matter.