Positive & Negative Space Reversal Collage

The Positive and Negative Space Reversal Collage is an excellent lesson for  4th-8th grades. This project can be made more complex & challenging with older students-explore the art of Notan. For older students, make sure to emphasize safety using the Exacto Knives! Here’s a more challenging Notan Lesson for older students: Notan Expansion of the Square

Notan: The Dark-Light Principle of Design (Dover Art Instruction)
This is a great book that explains the history & meaning behind Notan.

Key Vocabulary:

1. Space: the area above, below, between & through objects in a piece of art.
2. Positive Space: the main shapes or forms (main objects or shapes) in an artwork
3. Negative Space: the empty or non-interesting space between and around the main objects
4. Positive & Negative Space Reversal: visually switching back and forth between the positive and negative space. Positive space becomes negative and visa versa.
5. Symmetrical Balance: a design is the same or almost exactly the same on both sides

Supplies: 12×18 sheets of colored art paper, 9×12″ sheets of colored art paper, pencils, scissors, optional: exacto knives, stick glue, gallon ziplock bags for cut pieces

Instructions:

1. Students select 1 sheet each of 9×12″ & 12×18″ construction paper of contrasting colors.
2. On the 9×12″ sheet placed vertically, use a pencil to draw in designs-they must be full shapes, not just a single line. Some shapes can come from the edges as well. (this example shows the design on a white sheet of paper so you can see the design-it was actually drawn onto the turquoise paper).
3. Place 9×12″ sheet onto a cutting board & use scissors or an exacto knife to precisely cut the design out. Give each student a gallon size ziplock back to keep all the pieces in. DO NOT THROW ANY PIECES AWAY!   
4. Place the 12×18″ paper down first, glue the main piece of 9×12″ cut paper on to it. Use a glue stick so the paper doesn’t warp.
5. Place all your pieces back onto the 9×12″ paper-DO NOT GLUE THEM. Pick each on up, flip it over & place it so that it is mirror image on the “blank” side of the 12×18″ paper. If you have a shape within a shape, you will leave the next shape on the first side & glue it. Continue placing the shapes until you have all of your pieces glued down.

 

If you choose to use this lesson or repost it (written or photos), please link back to my blog Create Art with ME.

MORE Collage Art Lessons:

Notan

 

 

Types of Balance Collage

 

 

Mixed Media Still Life and Collage

Here are some more student examples: (click on image to see FULL view)