POSITIVE/NEGATIVE SPACE

This week i have a picture of a painting by M.C. Escher.  The use of positive and negative space are outstanding.  With space, Positive represents the main focus of the picture while negative refers to the background.  Escher uses positive and negative space to represent to intertwining images.  In the bottom half, the positive space is represented fish which starts out light and progresses to a darker shade, the negative space is black and plays an important part in this piece.  In the top half, the positive space is represented by Geese which start completely black and gain a small amount of white shading, the negative space is white and without it we would not be able to see the geese.  Within this piece we can see several demonstrations of design principals.  Unity by proximity within the groups of objects, Unity by repetition within the fish and geese, Balance in symmetry between the objects and within the frame, slight mathematical balance, and a clear Rhythm that is alternating between black and white border as well as fish and geese.  (source: Lurzer's Archive, M.C. Escher, Sky and Water I)

DESIGN PRINCIPLES: RHYTHM

This week i have two examples of Rhythm:

In this book by F.A. Giles (Artwork also by F.A. Giles) we can see a few distinct examples of Rhythm.  The color pattern suggest that the orange and blue scheme continues rhythmically (implied by the font at the bottom).  The font used is repeated throughout each section, suggesting a good sense of rhythmic flow.  The spacing is even and continues throughout each line as well.  there is nothing distracting about the background color which takes away from the rhythm throughout the cover.  (F.A. Giles, Pruning Evergreens and Deciduous Trees and Shrubs, U of I Urbana Illinois, 1971)

The second example i have is from album artwork by the band Aerosmith.  We can clearly see examples of Rhythm throughout this piece of work.  The font size and spacing is what first grabs your attention, and the rhythm is present through the use of repetition.  The background is an excellent example of rhythm, the combination of the repeating pattern of diagonal lines which form an unending spiral and the black/blue color scheme is hypnotizing; bringing great energy to the piece.  The wings also have a nice flow, and the jagged lines on the side of the wings repeat and bring further rhythm to the composition. (Aerosmith, Big Ones, artist not provided, Geffen, 1994)