ways to fill white space

My sketchbook is all about getting ideas out of my head, it is a place to practice and a place to warm up my creative muscles. Because I spend a lot of time sketching and keeping a visual journal, a BIG part of my process is filling a page. Most of the time when I sit down to draw or doodle I try to fill all the white space on the page with something...anything! The daily practice of working from start to finish and filling white space has become a great lesson in learning (and embracing) the discipline it takes to complete a creative project. Today I wanted to share a few of my favorite simple ways to fill white space.

In my opinion color is one of the easiest ways to fill white space. If left white, the subject matter is is nice but if you choose to fill the space around that subject matter with color, things begin to POP and instantly become more dynamic.

Tip- Try adding more saturated color along the edges of your drawing this will get things to jump off the page even more.

Free writing, journaling and adding text to white space is a great way to not only fill the space but it is also a fun way to keep a journal. 

Depending on your subect matter you can add observations, inspiration, ideas, even recipes!

TIP- Try getting creative with the placement of your writing. Add text inside the borders, in between shapes and around your subject matter.

I love to doodle and I have discovered that simple shapes or pattern are a great way to fill up white space. Use all those nooks and crannies in between your subject matter and fill them with smaller doodles.

TIP- Keep it simple with dots and dashes or get more complex with intricate lines and pattern. 

Theres is no rule that says that white space needs to be filled with clean details! One of my favorite ways to fill space is with lots of messy swipes of color, drips, scribbles and expressive marks. 

TIP: Set out to "attack" your sketchbook page like you would a mixed media project. Begin with a colorful, messy and expressive background and then draw over the top.

As much as I love trying to fill all the white space on a page, there is something quite beautiful about holding onto some of that blank space!

TIP: Try drawing from the corner of the page or offsetting your drawings to one side this creates visual harmony between your drawing and the white space.

For more information about my sketching process and supplies visit HERE