Notan: Design in Light and Dark

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Notan Design in Light and Dark Key
Concepts Space Positive and Negative
Space Balance Visual Weight Symmetry/Asymmetry
(review) Shape Organic/Geometric (review)
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S P A C E is one of the Elements of
Design. positive space Space in an artwork that
is filled with something, such as lines, designs,
color, or shapes. negative space Empty space in
an artwork, a void.
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                                 http//www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/watch_space_positive.cfm                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                                     
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Public art sculpture (title unknown) by Ace Dawson-Tobak, 1996
Public art sculpture (title unknown) by Ace
Dawson-Tobak, 1996
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Notan Design in Light and Dark

• "Notan" is the term used by the Japanese to
  express "light-dark" as an element of design.
• We use the terms positive space and negative
  space, dividing the idea of light-dark into
  separate components.
• Dark shapes cannot exist without a surrounding
  area of white. White shapes cannot exist without
  dark to define it.
• The two elements are really one. This is an
  eastern concept of yin-yang that each IS what the
  other IS NOT.

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Spontaneous
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Geometric
Organic
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Motif
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Motif
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ASYMETRICAL SYMMETRICAL
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Sweet examples!
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YOUR GOAL to create a composition where both
positive and negative spaces are made
interesting. Think out of the box Expand of
the square.

• Student's work was complex, detailed. The work
  seemed to almost vibrate because of high
  contrast. There is NO focal point and your eye
  moves in an around the design, which means great
  use of the positive and negative concepts.you
  understand NOTAN.
• Students work was innovative showed originality.
  (No use of clichés or hearts and advertising
  symbols)
• Immaculate detail, clean student showed extreme
  care when cutting and gluing. (No missing
  pieces).
• Great effort set forth and student was
  enthusiastic and showed a great
• attitude when working on this art project. (NO
  is this good enough??)