Unlike the elements of line and colour, space is always a consideration for artists. A work can exist without line; one need only consider the colour field painters for whom colour is paramount. Likewise, a work can exist without colour; one need only consider works that are black and white. Consider a drawing done using charcoal or graphite. It is devoid of colour. (Do recall that in art black and white are not considered colours; they cannot be found on the colour wheel.) However, a work simply cannot exist without space.
To begin with, in a composition space can be regarded as positive space or negative space. Referring back to our definition of subject two weeks ago, when the subject is a person or object it can be regarded as the positive space within the composition. In the case of a composition made up of a floral arrangement, the subject and positive space of the painting is the floral arrangement. Therefore, the negative space is the space that surrounds and is within the subject. In our example of a floral arrangement, the artist may paint the negative space a neutral gray so as not to distract from the subject.