frank stella inspired shape collage · 2020-05-23 · frank stella inspired shape collage fillmore...

Frank Stella Inspired Shape Collage

Visual Arts Distance LearningFillmore Arts Center Ms Tsou

Explore positive and negative space by creating and overlapping shapes in a collage

Frank Stella (born 1936) was one of the most dominant and influential figures in abstract painting during the 1960s through the 1990s.


What shapes and patterns has Frank Stella used in these two pieces?


We know all the art museums are closed but if you can, visit Frank Stella's sculpture outside the National Gallery of Art


Positive space (or shapes) refer to the main focus of a picture, while negative space (or shapes) refer to the background (empty space) When used creatively and intelligently, positive and negative space together can tell a story using visual composition alone.

Which are the positive shapes in the yin and yang image? Which are the negative shapes?

What is positive and negative space?


Overlapping Shapes Overlapping in art is the placement of objects over one another in order to create the illusion

of depth. Painting is a two-dimensional artistic expression. It has length and width but no depth. Look at the above images.

Question: Please points out where is overlapping happening?


A focal point in a work of art is the area in the picture in which the viewer’s eye is naturally drawn to. Some artists deliberately do not include a focal

point in their artwork. The focal point can be any shape, size or color.


Focal Point

Where are the focal points in these pictures? One of them does not have a focal point.

Words to Know:

Frank StellaNegative spacePositive spaceOverlappingFocal Point


Lesson: Create an abstract shape collage

Highlighting positive and negative spaces in your collage


Materials: paperpastels, paint, crayon or tissue paper or otherglue scissors


StepsUsing a pencil, draw a series of simple shapes in different sizes (10-15 in total)

Cut out these shapes

Color each cut-out shapes using paint, oil pastel, or any other medium.


Steps continued:Arrange your shapes on a larger piece of paper. Be sure to overlap these shapes. Pay attention to the negative shapes that you are creating!

Once you are satisfied with your design, glue it on the paper.

You may also glue any additional found objects on top of your shapes to add visual interest.


Here are some examples of what your finished project could look like:


Questions:Where do you observe positive and negative space/shapes in your

everyday life? Try drawing these spaces!

What is the most difficult part of this project and how did you solve it?

We know that positive space is usually is the focal point/subject but why is negative space (empty space) also important in an artwork?

Can negative space be the focal point and why?

Please write 3 observations about Frank Stella’s artwork.


Take a picture of your collage and your written answers and email them to: [email protected]

When you finish:


mailto:[email protected]

frank stella inspired shape collage · 2020-05-23 · frank stella inspired shape collage fillmore...

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