Create negative space

Question

currently trying my first experience with Illustrator and I came across a minor issue. I have a shape and path going through that plane which is partly enclosed. Now I want to paint the enclosed path in white but can't seem to figure out how.

This is my current pic:

This is the shape without the path

This is only the path

I want the little loop at the top to be white and the rest of not any color only the stroke itself should be seen. How would I achieve that? I tried Pathfiinder > Subtract but that didn't seem to help.

Answer 1

• Select the path

• Get the Shape Builder Tool

  and pressing Alt to delete, click inside the loop area.

• To keep this shape, just click with the Shape Builder Tool