Illustration XXXIII: Negative Space & Intimate Silhouettes
⬅ Check the illustration post before this, Illustration - XXXII
After months of digital experimentation, I've found myself drawn back to basics - black ink, clean lines, and the power of negative space. This collection marks my return to printmaking, exploring human connection through minimalist silhouettes.
Lovers: Another Attempt to Make Prints
This print feels like a breakthrough. Started as a simple ink drawing that somehow captured exactly what I was going for - that moment of complete surrender between two people. The flowing hair element happened accidentally when my hand slipped, but it ended up creating this perfect visual rhythm.
The original has already sold (will update with installation photos when I receive them), but prints are available in my shop. It's fascinating seeing the difference between the original and the digital version - there's a warmth to the paper texture that digital can't quite replicate, but the crispness of the lines actually pops more in the digital print.
Steady as a Rock
This one emerged during a particularly cold week when my heating decided to quit. There's something about physical discomfort that strips away pretense - the body curls in, protecting its core.
The negative space does most of the emotional heavy lifting here. I wanted to capture that contradiction of vulnerability and strength - how sometimes the moments we feel most broken are when we're actually most resilient.
Technically, this was a challenge to get the balance right between form and emptiness. Too much black and it becomes heavy; too little and it loses impact.
A Bookmark in the Same Style
Functional art is my favorite kind of art. This bookmark design started as a scrap piece I was using to test ink consistency, but it evolved into something I actually wanted to use.
The elongated format forced me to think differently about composition. How do you create movement in such a constrained space? The answer came through those intertwining figures that lead your eye from top to bottom.
I've made a small batch of these on heavy cardstock - perfect for people who still believe in physical books (like me).
Human Body Like a Pendant
There's something about the back view of the human form that feels both vulnerable and anonymous. This piece plays with that duality - intimate yet distant.
I've been thinking about identity lately - how much of ourselves we reveal and conceal - and this image became a visual metaphor for that tension. The figure's face is hidden but their form is exposed.
This one's been popular as a small format print - almost like a talisman or pendant, hence the name.
Digital Experiments in the Same Style
Couldn't resist taking this aesthetic into the digital realm. These experiments maintain the stark black and white contrast but play with elements that would be challenging in traditional printmaking - like the intricate leaf patterns and the swirling motion effects.
There's something liberating about working with the same constraints (just black and white) but without the physical limitations of ink and paper. I can push the complexity without worrying about how I'll actually cut or print it.
The processing video below shows my workflow - starting with rough sketches and gradually refining into these clean silhouettes. It's less about adding details and more about deciding what to remove.
The Appeal of Reduction
What draws me to this stark black and white approach is the honesty of it. There's nowhere to hide when you're working with pure silhouette - every curve and line has to earn its place.
These pieces feel like a palette cleanser after months of digital color work. There's something meditative about reducing an image to its essential elements, asking: what's the minimum needed to convey this feeling or moment?
I'm planning to continue this series through the winter, possibly exploring how these silhouettes might translate to textile prints or small sculptures. If you have thoughts on where you'd like to see this style go next, drop a comment below.
