Monday 25 April 2016

2016 #8 Wonderful White Space {by Keren Baker}

 2016 Topic 8: White Space

Hi everyone Keren Baker here.

Tonight I'd like to share with you this evening with a post about White Space.

It's my preferred style of crafting and something that lots of people seem a little scared to try sometimes. If you're used to filling your substrate with colour, this might seem a little counterintuitive but apart from using up less ink or paint (ha!) it can give real focus to a particular part of your project, or lead the eye straight to your focal point.

I've created two different projects using two The Cat's Meow sets. Firstly, allowing the main image to be surrounded by white space




There isn't much real process other than adding lots of layers of colour. I've used some watercolour pens for ease and have white embossed the image from this 'Ocean' set. I've picked out details like creating 'seafoam' with a white pen and allowed the image to be showcased by allowing the background not to detract from it. Having said that this is 'white space' and indeed, it is, in my card. It needs not be white, just simply a portion of negative space to balance with the positive space in your composition.



The sentiment helps balance the composition, allowing the image not just to 'bleed' into the background. In this next project, I've added far more elements to the design, but by a simple technique of clustering, it allows you to use lots of white space and still create an 'non-busy 'design.



This second project is using the fun 'Dog' set


Simply done, I've stamped out all the elements, cut them out separately and then chose one area of the design to place most of the elements in. It's a sure fire way of easily conquering 'white space fear' and still allowing you to add lots of detail. 



I hope you'll translate these into your own style. You could easily have a coloured background with a very faint stamped images and then a bolder focal point and this would have a similar effect- it's all about balance and thinking about positive and negative space rather than great clumps of white canvas or card which seems to scare the heebie-jeebies out of lots of people! 

It is sometimes easier to explore this with smaller images/substrates- try a mini canvas or a card and play around with clustering, even just grouping layers of paint and images into one area and going from there!

See you soon (and it WILL be more artsy next time!), Keren xx

Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest: @craftstampink

Keren your use of White Space always has me in awe! Your minimilist use of composition/colour always packs a visual punch. Great to see the quirky Cat's Meow images being used. Thanks for sharing your creativity with us. ~Gillian

We would love to see how you interpret this White Space topic by linking what you make to our 2016 Challenge #8: White Space, on this page HERE.

All of our bloggers love to see your twist on their ideas,  particularly if you were inspired directly by their post. 

All links go in the draw to win a £50 voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The White Space link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, May 1st 2016. The winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

11 comments:

Helen said...

Wgat fabulous cards keren

Kirsten said...

Two gorgeous cards, Keren. The ship looks great & I love the little dog, he's so cute.

Craftyfield said...

Both great compositions, I don't find white space scary as such just difficult to make interesting. Anything out of place sticks out like a sore thumb!

craftytrog said...

Wonderful cards Keren!

conil said...

The amazing Keren strikes again and again.

Lauren Hatwell said...

Fabulous! The boat card with it's white embossing and washes of colour is my absolute favourite. Lx

Julie Lee said...

I think there's a lot of skill involved in bringing off a minimalist look! You are just brilliant at it! These cards look amazing. You have created such atmosphere on the one with the boat and the little dog one is so charming! Great use of 'white space'! xx

Ros Crawford said...

I pinned both of them ... they're fantastic cards!

craftimamma said...

Absolutely perfect white space cards and I agree with Julie Ann, you are brilliant at it! I love them both but the sheer simplicity of the first one is stunning!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Etsuko said...

What a lovely two cards, I agree with Julie and Lesley, I adoer your woks. I love the boat card too, really the sentiment's atmosphere. xx

Ellie Knol said...

Gorgeous, both of them! Beautiful use of white space. My take will be on the PA blog tonight - hope you will come and visit me too :)