ITTEN’S 7 COLOR CONTRASTS

ALBERS COLOR CONTRASTS

Final Assignment:

1) Itten’s contrasts2) Albers’ interactions3) Bezold effect.

So what is the Bezold Effect?

Wilhelm Von Bezold, A 19th Century Rug De s i g ne r, D i s cove red an OPT IC AL INTERACTION Effect, Which Now Carries His Name, The BEZOLD EFFECT.  He Found That He Could Change the Entire Appearance of His Designs by Substituting a Different Color For the Color Which Occupied the Most Area.

Final Assignment:

CHRISTMAS CARD• Objective: 

On the front of folded Christmas card, create a color interaction design that demonstrates any one of

1) Itten’s contrasts2) Albers’ interactions3) Bezold effect.

Card Design Option # 1 & 2Itten and Albers

Folded: 5.5” x 4.25” (Itten), 5”x7”, or 5”x8”(Albers)

Itten: Complementary Example Design

Itten: IntensityExample Design

Itten: Contrast of ExtensionExample Design

Itten: Simultaneous ContrastExample Design

Albers’ Interactions:Light/Dark Value or Cool/Warm 

Reaction Effect(Folded card 5” x 7” or 5” x 8”)

Albers’ Interactions:Complementary Reaction Effect(Folded card 5” x 7” or 5” x 8”)

Card Design Option # 3: Bezold Effect(Dominant colors change appearance of design)

(Folded: 5”x8”)

Layout,1/3 area:

Bezold Design Example A:

The design is drawn into geometric shapes inside the 1/3 areas. 

1/3 of total design area:

1/3 of total design area:

1/3 of total design area:

Paint each third is consistently

1/3 of total design area:

1/3 of total design area:

1/3 of total design area:

Create the Bezold effctby giving each third a different background color – the most dominant in each of the three.

1/3 of total design area:

1/3 of total design area:

1/3 of total design area:

Layout,1/4 area:

Bezold Design Example B:

Paint each quadrant background in a different color –complimentary, light/dark (value) warm cool (temperature), 

or intense/dull (intensity)

Layout,½ area:

Bezold Effect Example CThe design is within inside the 1/2 areas. 

Paint backgrounds in 2 complimentary, light/dark, or dull/bright colors

Bezold Effect Example D

Bezold Effect Example E

Material for all 3 choices1) Itten’s contrasts

2) Albers’ interactions3) Bezold effect.

• Paint, color markers• Drawing paper 9” x 12” • Pencil, straight edge. A triangle is very helpful.• If you wish, you may use a computer drawing program. 2 

designs must be turned in. Your designs must be printed in color on card stock paper (all‐purpose bond paper not acceptable).