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Create artworks and poetry inspired by the works of Japanese artist Katsushika 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
Before you start
Before you start
For this lesson you will need:
art paper
paints - you could use watercolour or acrylic paints
black oil pastel, crayon or marker
Ride the wave and create your own Hokusai inspired artwork
Ride the wave and create your own Hokusai inspired artwork
Do you have the courage to ride the wave and create your own Hokusai inspired artwork?
Follow these instructions to create your own Great Wave:
Step 1
Step 1
Using a black oil pastel, crayon or marker draw in your waves.
The biggest wave should extend almost to the top of the paper.
All waves are different so be creative with your design.
Step 2
Step 2
Add in the whitecaps.
These should be drawn below the wave line.
Use a scribbly line or curly, wavy lines or maybe you want a jagged line look for your whitecaps.
Step 3
Step 3
Draw the stripes in the breaks of the waves.
Remember to follow the shape of the wave for your lines!
This is part of what makes Hokusai’s print unique.
Step 4
Step 4
Draw in Mount Fuji.
Remember to keep Mount Fuji small to create perspective!
Step 5
Step 5
Paint the waves.
Use different shades of cool colours (blues, greens, purples) to paint your waves. You could use watercolours or acrylic paints. In this example we are using watercolours.
Use 1 brush for all the waves. Allow the colours to mix as you are painting. This will mean that as you paint, the colours will blend on the paper to create an interesting mix.
Use the stripes to create different hues and textures in your waves. It does not have to be a regulated pattern.
Step 6
Step 6
Paint in the sky and horizon using warm colours (yellows, oranges, reds)
Look to see if there are areas in the background that are lighter or darker and use your paint to convey this.
You can add the splashes to your artwork by loading paint onto your brush and tapping the paintbrush lightly just above your artwork!
Step 7
Step 7
You can add splashes to your artwork to represent the sea spray by loading paint onto your brush and tapping the paintbrush lightly just above your artwork! Make sure you use some water to dilute the paint to make it easier to apply.
You could also use a cotton bud or the back of your paintbrush to add dots to your painting.
Congratulations your artwork is complete!
Display it proudly for all to see.
Extension activity
Extension activity
Check out this great artwork by Tylah Swinton from Operation Art 2016.
Can you see how they have taken inspiration from Hokusai's print but recreated it with an Australian flair.
Can you create a Hokusai inspired painting to represent your local area or Australia?
Think about a local or Australian landmark that inspires you. Consider the colours you will use.
We can't wait to see what you create!
Australia
Tylah Swinton Operation Art 2016
"This artwork is an appropriation of The Great Wave by Hokusai. I have borrowed the composition from Hokusai but change the meaning to reflect Australia."
Music inspired by Hokusai
Music inspired by Hokusai
Claude Debussy was a famous composer. He loved the works of Hokusai and in fact had one of the prints of The Great Wave off Kanagawa in his house.
Debussy was so inspired by Hokusai's work that he composed a piece of music about the sea called 'La Mer'.
You might like to play this piece of music as you work on your artwork.
Can you hear in the music the sounds of the sea?
DEBUSSY - La Mer - The Sea
Duration: 24:15Third-party content attributions
Third-party content attributions
Australia, ©Tylah Swinton, 2016, reproduced and communicated with permission.
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