@The Arts Unit Creative Classes

Making waves with Hokusai

Create artworks and poetry inspired by the works of Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai

Student visual arts resource developed by The Arts Unit

Year 3 to Year 6 visual arts

What will I learn?

You will:

  • examine the work of Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai

  • create artworks inspired by Hokusai's The Great Wave off Kanagawa

  • experiment with printmaking to create a print inspired by Hokusai

  • use perspective and colour theory techniques when creating artworks

  • explore with Google Art and Culture - Art Colouring Book interactive experiment

  • create a Haiku poem inspired by your artwork.

World globe highlighting Japan

Before you start

Today we will be exploring the world of famous Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.

This Creative Class has 4 lessons:

  1. Printmaking

  2. Painting

  3. Colouring experiment

  4. Haiku poetry

We hope you enjoy creating with us.

Before we begin, lets learn a little more about Katusushika Hokusai.

Look at the beautiful works of students from NSW public schools who have been inspired by Hokusai in their works created for Operation Art and the Nagoya Art Exchange.

The Great Wave

Sprinlin YangMurray Farm Public SchoolOperation Art 2019
Student artwork example inspired by Hokusai Great Wave

Giant Wave

Lachlan AlexanderKatoomba North Public SchoolOperation Art 2018
Student artwork example inspired by Hokusai Great Wave

The Great Wave

Tasma Spalding Timbumburi Public SchoolNagoya Art Exchange 2020
Student artwork example inspired by Hokusai Great Wave

Giant Wave

Karma Deokar LhamoKatoomba North Public SchoolOperation Art 2018
Student artwork example inspired by Hokusai Great Wave

Waves

Hamish GeorgeTamworth Public SchoolOperation Art 2018
Student artwork example inspired by Hokusai Great Wave

Who is Katsushika Hokusai?

Katsushika Hokusai (pronounced: Cat-soo-she-kah Ho-koo-sigh) is one of the greatest Japanese printmakers and painters of the 19th century. He lived from 1760 – 1849.

Hokusai had a long career, but he produced most of his important work after the age of 60!

His most popular work is the Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e) series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, which was created between 1826 and 1833. This included the internationally iconic print, The Great Wave off Kanagawa.

Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan and has long been considered sacred. Hokusai has often been described as having a personal fascination with the mountain, which sparked his interest in making this series.


Watch the video Art with Mati and Dada - Hokusai to learn more about this amazing artist.


Art with Mati and Dada - Hokussi

Duration: 07:55

Mount Fuji is an active volcano about 100 kilometres southwest of Tokyo in Japan. It is the country’s tallest peak, at 3,776 metres. A pilgrimage site for centuries, it’s considered one of Japan’s 3 sacred mountains.

Look at these 4 images of Mount Fuji to see it in different lights. This might be useful to remember when creating your artwork.

Image of Mount Fuji at sunrise
Image of Mount Fuji in sunlight
Image of Mount Fuji at sunset
Image of Mount Fuji at dusk

The Great Wave off Kanagawa

The Great Wave off Kanagawa was created by Katsushika Hokusai, for a series of originally 36 famous views of Mount Fuji, Japan's sacred mountain.

The Great Wave off Kanagawa is not a Japanese painting but a woodblock print which is created by carving an image into a block with sharp knives and other tools.

Afterwards the raised areas of the woodblock are covered with ink and the block is pressed firmly against a sheet of paper to produce the image.

Traditional colour woodblock prints like the Great Wave off Kanagawa are produced by carving one block for each colour and printing them on top of each other.

Having watched video and explored the artwork, complete the following questions:

  • What did you notice from exploring the artwork?

  • Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan. How does the size of the wave relate to Mount Fuji? What sort of wave do you think this could be?

  • Why do you think Mount Fuji appears small in relation to the wave?

  • Can you see the fishing boats? What does the angle of the fishing boats suggest to you?

Let's look at The Great Wave of Kanagawa more closely.

Notice that Hokusai's print is broken up into three sections:

  • Foreground (first two waves)

  • Mid Ground (main wave)

  • Background (horizon and Mount Fuji).

In this artwork Hokusai plays with perspective by showing the waves to be much larger than Mount Fuji.

Perspective is a technique used to represent 3-dimensional scenes or objects on a flat, 2-dimensional surface. This is achieved by creating an illusion of depth and distance.

Look at the colours used by Hokusai. He used cool colours (shades of blues) to represent the water and warm colours (yellows and pinks) to represent the background. You might consider this in your artwork.

For a refresher on warm and cool colours check out @The Arts Unit Creative Classes - Colour my world.


While looking at the artwork trace the lines of the wave in the air with your finger. Now air trace the lines of Mount Fuji in the background. Describe the type of shapes you are making.

Notice the lines in the waves and how they follow the shape of the wave.

Look at the following 3 images of waves and see the numerous shades of blues and greens. Can you see the natural wave lines in these photos?

image of ocean waves
image of ocean waves
image of ocean waves

Lesson 1 - Printmaking

In this lesson we will explore the technique of reduction printing.

You will:

  • create your own print block

  • use printing techniques to create your own Hokusai inspired Great Wave print!

Select the image to go to Lesson 1 - Printmaking

Select to go to Lesson 1 - Printmaking

Lesson 2 - Painting

In this lesson we will take the challenge to create our own Hokusai inspired painting using water colours.

You will:

  • create your own Hokusai inspired artwork

  • experiment with perspective and colours to add depth and hues to your artwork.

Select the image to go to Lesson 2 - Painting.

Select to go to Lesson 2 - Painting

Lesson 3 - Colouring experiment

In this lesson we will experiment with colours using Google Art and Culture - Art Colouring Book.

This interactive experiment allows you to colour your way through the palettes of famous paintings including the works of Hokusai.

Select the image to go to Lesson 3 - Colouring experiment,


Select to go to Lesson 3 - Colouring experiment

Lesson 4 - Haiku poetry

In this lesson we will explore Haiku poetry.

A haiku poem is traditionally a Japanese poem consisting of 3 short lines.

You will:

  • learn the components of a Haiku poem

  • create a Haiku poem inspired by your artwork.

Select the image to go to Lesson 4 - Haiku poetry.

Select to go to Lesson 4 - Haiku poetry

You might like to explore more of our @The Arts Unit Creative Classes:






What a stretch! Years 3 to 4 visual arts

Third-party content attributions

  • The Great Wave, © Sprinlin Yang, 2019, reproduced and communicated with permission.

  • The Great Wave, © Tasma Spalding, 2020, reproduced and communicated with permission.

  • Waves, © Hamish George, 2018, reproduced and communicated with permission.

  • Giant Wave, © Lachlan Alexander, 2018, reproduced and communicated with permission.

  • Giant Wave, ©Karma Deokar Lhamo, 2018, reproduced and communicated with permission.

  • Australia, ©Tylah Swinton, 2016, reproduced and communicated with permission.