The Figure-Ground Relationship in Art

A brief overview of the gestalt principle of figure and ground. This presentation delves into its importance with relationship to art and design - not only in black and white but also in color.

1. Figure-Ground Relationship [The relationship between a form or figure and its background] It can also be described as the contrast between positive space (figure) and negative space (background).

2. Figure = the focal point Ground = background (we’re NOT talking about the literal ground/sky)

3. Figure-ground refers to 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 are contrasted to show figure-ground relationship?

5. In art… Positive space: where something IS Negative space: where something ISN’T

6. Empty spaces have as much significance as the areas that are filled. Silhouettes: negative space defines the positive

7. When the figure-ground relationship 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 .

8. Project 1 Objectives : To create a composition demonstrating a balanced figure/ground relationship To create a design where negative/positive space have equal importance

9. Preliminary (Sketchbook) Work: Six thumbnail sketches for possible designs Two compositional studies of your favorite ideas   Materials : 1 sheet of scratchboard paper, min. 7.5x11 ” 1 scratchboard tool

10. Process: Develop a design using 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