The Figure-Ground Relationship in Art

The Figure-Ground Relationship in Art

• 1.
  Figure-Ground Relationship [The relationship betweena form or figure and its background] It can also be described as the contrast between positive space (figure) and negative space (background).
• 2.
  Figure = thefocal point Ground = background (we’re NOT talking about the literal ground/sky)
• 3.
  • Figure-ground refersto a gestalt principle about the way we visually perceive images • Basically, it illustrates our own cognitive ability to separate elements based upon contrast: dark vs. light, black vs. white, red vs. green, there vs. not there.
• 4.
  What elements arecontrasted to show figure-ground relationship?
• 5.
  In art… Positive space:where something IS Negative space: where something ISN’T
• 6.
  • Empty spaceshave as much significance as the areas that are filled. • Silhouettes: negative space defines the positive
• 7.
  When the figure-groundrelationship is emphasized, both negative AND positive space (and their resulting forms) are important compositional elements that lead your eye around the design. The define each other.
• 9.
  Project 1 Objectives: • Tocreate a composition demonstrating a balanced figure/ground relationship • To create a design where negative/positive space have equal importance
• 10.
  Preliminary (Sketchbook) Work: Sixthumbnail sketches for possible designs Two compositional studies of your favorite ideas Materials: 1 sheet of scratchboard paper, min. 7.5x11” 1 scratchboard tool
• 11.
  Process: Develop a designusing black and white shapes (circles, squares, triangles, letters, etc) only. Though your impulse will be to create an image with one positive shape and the resulting negative space, you must find a way to balance the importance of the two spaces. Keeping things abstract is often helpful, since figure/ground often leads to a complex optical illusion when made representational. But the student can choose to tackle this challenge if they prefer. I recommend doing 1-2 thumbnails using only your initials. This simplifies the idea, and sometimes helps get the ball rolling for other ideas to follow. DUE: Feb 5