Students embark on an exciting artistic journey by creating a series of three captivating thumbnail sketches (each featuring 2-3 negative and positive pictorial windows) and one final, visually striking drawing that emphasizes the interplay between negative and positive space. They unleash their creativity by incorporating two or three dynamic "windows" or compositions within a single sheet of Bristol drawing paper, resulting in a mesmerizing visual experience.

In this assignment, students create a composition on 16"x20" or 14"x17" Bristol paper, incorporating two to three "windows" (squares or rectangles) that engage the edges of the format. These windows should contain negative and positive shapes inspired by a chosen still life, with consideration given to their aesthetic relationship and the overall page layout. Students are encouraged to experiment with simple forms that suggest shape and space while actively participating in a visual critique process.

Students begin by sketching their "windows" and the still life within them using a 2H pencil. They create three thumbnails that display the page, windows on the page, and the still life inside the windows before moving on to the final piece.

They fill the negative space with black ink, leaving the positive space white, and avoid outlining objects with a black line to imply their outer edges. They are asked to consider the edge of the composition and the relationship between the windows, and how they extend beyond the page.

Finally, they experiment with forms and balance, using symmetrical balance for stability and asymmetrical balance for a more dynamic result.

By considering the relationships of containment among the pictorial windows and the format of the page, students explore Gestalt principles through grouping, repetition, proximity, and closure.