Itten's Exercises #1

6"x8" Charcoal

This is an introductory exercise to learn the light-dark contrast. It was to produce a white and a black circle in whatever way I want. I think Itten meant for the students to understand that "all contrast effects are relative." How white a circle should be in order to look white right next to a black circle? How their sizes and positions effect each other and the whole composition? It was a simple but very helpful exercise that let me consider such fundamental questions.