NOTAN DESIGNS

Notan is a Japanese word meaning dark and light. It is the art of seeing and balancing opposites, light and dark, presence and absence, form and space. Notan reminds us that every shape has a partner: what is there and what is not there, working together in harmony.

Key Concepts

Positive Space – The shapes or forms that exist, the “something” in your artwork.

Negative Space – The empty space around and between shapes, the “nothing” that gives meaning to the “something.”

Balance – When dark and light shapes hold each other in visual equilibrium. Neither dominates; both coexist.

Harmony – The visual relationship between shapes that feels complete and unified.

Contrast – The power of opposing elements (light/dark, filled/empty) to create impact.

Symbolic Reminder

“Dark cannot exist without light, and light cannot exist without dark. Every form is defined by the space around it.”

Think of your design as a dance between opposites, where every shape has its counterpart.

Materials

• Colored square paper (dark or light)

• White paper (opposite tone)

• Pencil

• Scissors

• Glue

  
  

Lesson Steps

1. Watch the tutorial video: Japanese Notan Art Tutorial.https://youtu.be/r0pVQa1HcTs

2. Sketch your design, focus on simple shapes and symbolic forms that represent balance, contrast, or duality.

3. Transfer your sketch lightly onto a colored square of paper.

4. Cut out your shapes carefully.

5. Arrange and glue them onto a larger white sheet, paying attention to how positive and negative spaces interact.

6. Reflect, does your composition feel balanced and harmonious? Could each shape exist without its opposite?

Self-Reflection

☐ Do the light and dark shapes balance each other?

☐ Does the negative space feel as meaningful as the positive space?

☐ Is the composition simple, bold, and symbolic?

☐ Do the shapes tell a story of contrast or harmony?