Negative Shape Flower Painting Exercise In My Sketchbook

Negative shape painting is a great art technique that every crafter out to have up their sleeve, as it is great for making art and illustrations of all kinds, and especially wonderful when introduced to kids! This technique would be perfect for making art for the Succah, (think pomegranates, fig leaves, apples, olive branches etc.) since now is the time to gets those gears turning as far as succah decorations are concerned!

I did this vibrant flower illustration/painting in my landscape sized art journal, right next to a little floral drawing study done with markers, as the paper in this sketchbook is very thick. Markers can be fun, but the results achieved with negative shape painting and acrylic paint are soooooo much richer and more interesting. Of course the great think about a sketchbook/art journal is that you can and should experiment with a variety of materials and techniques, and then you have that experiment on hand in a reference book of sorts to look back on!

The most important aspect, I believe, in the negative shape painting technique is creating an interesting background, as it peaks through the shapes in the end result. This background was created by using up extra paint on my paint brush from a little painting I was trying to complete, and while that painting wasn’t such a great success this little exercise in my sketchbook was. So you just never know where the art journey will take you, so just be open to unexpected results that may just be better than anything you had planned! Keep on reading for more on how to create something similar, and espcially for how I created the background as well as a look at it before the black layer was painted…….

A better look at my small negative shape flower painting…….
A look at the entire spread, cheerful that is certainly true…….and unlike anything else I’ve created, which is refreshing !

You’ll Need:

• watercolor paper, or watercolor paper journal (in my case)
• acrylic paint: pink, red, orange, black
• a permanent fine line marker
• some reference for drawing flowers if needed

How To:

1. I made these blotchy stripes of color by simply rolling the end of my paint brush across the paper such that the unused paint stuck at the top of the brush touched the paper and formed the blotchy stripes. I did this while I was working on a painting that used these colors. You could also take a tiny sponge and wipe the excess paint onto the sponge and then dapple the paper with the sponge, or make a pattern in any way that appeals to you. Finger painting certainly works as well!
2. Using a permanent black fine line pen, and a dry piece of patterned paper, draw an arrangement of flowers that fills the majority of the page.
3. Now, for the negative painting part: paint the background AROUND the flower illustrations, being very carefull not to go inside the lines.
4. Voila, a beautiful painting surfaces. You can of course add more detail on top with paint to further define your flowers or add more color or interest, but I like mine simply as is, because after all, this is a sketchbook exercise and we needn’t overthink it1