A Hokusai Study : Elementary Art Lesson : Printmaking







To celebrate the coming of spring, we turned toward a Japanese artist focused on nature, Katsushika Hokusai. The students analyzed his pieces and learned that a print of a big wave offers so many things to think about. (visual literacy). We discussed the fishermen. Were they so skilled they could survive these waves-or not? We discussed how beautiful the ocean is and how it possesses great power and can be very dangerous. We discussed our landscape in the high desert, how we would depict it, and what stories it would  tell children in Japan. We observed how people may have lived over two hundred years ago in Japan and learned we may have something in common today across the globe in Northern Nevada.  To further our understanding of how powerful the waves are, we watched a YouTube video of a modern fishing boat on the high seas.

Taking another look at the artist's work, the children tested their visual literacy skills by suggesting the scene in the following print was of a picnic or camping (a very popular past time here in the Sierra Nevadas). They used the evidence of the blanket, starting a fire, and sitting somewhere picturesque to come to their conclusions. Close look art reading addresses many Common Core ELA standards of claims and evidence.

The Great Wave off Kanagawa : 36 views of Mt. Fuji Circa ~ 1823-1829

"The scene is titled Kisoji no oku Amida ga taki ("Amida Waterfall on the Kiso Road") from the series Shokoku taki meguri ("Journey to the Waterfalls in All the Provinces"), circa 1832. The name is based on the round hollow of the waterfall, reminiscent of the "round eye" (or perhaps halo) of Amida, Buddha of Boundless Light. A servant at the far left heats a water kettle while two men converse and admire the view from their spectacular vantage point." - taken from Viewing Japanese Prints

We tried to stay true to the ancient process of ukiyo-e. In traditional Japanese printmaking, there are three artists involved: 1) the concept artist who dreams up the idea, 2) the wood carver who engraves the concept onto several wood blocks, and 3) the inker who applies the ink to the wood blocks to make the print on rice paper. We completed our project in these same steps. However, each student held all three positions for their own art piece. Next time, I would like to stay more true to the process and have them rotate with two other students and see what happens!

Lesson Steps

The Concept

After viewing Hokusai's nature inspired images, students began by drafting a nature themed image within a circle. We traced a small cocktail sized paper plate for this step.  Grades 1-4 were graded on their coloring abilities. I was looking for control of the pencil, one direction (no scribble), and use of values (lightness and darkness of a color).

The Carving

Using a dinner-sized styrofoam plate we carved the concept into the bottom of the plate. We used pencils to carve. Don't use a super sharp pencil. Although is offers much better control and detail, it's much easier to pop holes into the plate which we don't want. A slightly dull pencil worked best for us.

The Inking

I tried brushes but the paint sinks into the grooves which will not make for a well defined print. I tried round sponge rollers. They sprayed the paint too much especially for really excited kids. Sponge brushes, the kind in the paint department at your local hardware store were best. The students were given two primary colors; some mixed to make three colors. Painted their plates and pressed them evenly onto a piece of paper.

Craftsmanship

Some classes chose to cut out the round images and displayed them on colored construction paper. Others enjoyed the pieces as they were on the original printed piece of paper. We sign and date all our art pieces--to me this is the final touch showing pride in one's creation. I have had one student profess, "I'm not proud of it, and I'm not signing it!". He recarved his plate (the grooves were not deep enough and the paint dried too quickly on the plate) and signed the second print.

Kindergarten

In Kindergarten, we had a wonderful discussion of Hokusai's artworks. The students are learning to discuss art while improving their communication skills. The students cut and glued colored construction paper in the style of Hokusai's The Great Wave. We did not use any templates. Their creations and interpretations are pure Kindergartner creativity.

Literary Extension

Our local library services carry two great biographical books for children about Hokusai.

Even Christian Dior produced a Hokusai inspired dress!!



Rewards Day - Open Studio & Contest

The first quarter has come to a close which means some of the classes will be celebrating their successes with an open studio day. This free creative day had to be earned by team cooperation and respectful behavior by all. We use a warning system, monitored by "Creepy Cornelius" (my very first painting in college resulting in the odd, creepy eyes).  You'll see the Great, Good, Fair, Oops categories to the right of him in the photo. If the class is on Great or Good, they earn a sticker. If they do not get a sticker twice during the 9 week quarter, they lose open studio. Lose it once or never, the whole class gets to color, read art books, play with modeling clay or homemade playdough, oragami, and other art related activities without a structured lesson or grade.  Everyone has to earn a sticker on the last week. This system really helps with clean up and noise levels during the lesson.

I've just started the Art Maids too. This is about clean-up. It certainly didn't seem fair to punish the whole class for a table's lack of cleaning discretion. Instead, those at the unkempt table become the Art Maids for the next class. They will be responsible for clean up, for everyone, until learning the proper care of our precious art materials. Not only an important life lesson but in art it is imperative that we respect our tools and space in order to craft beautiful work with quality materials in a clean space. If marker and glue caps are replaced, they dry out. If a table is left with wet paint, the next student wears it on his/her clothes or on the now-ruined sheet of high quality art paper.  Brushes need to be cleaned and ready for the next artist. The students think this is fun and hope a table will be messy so they get a "maid". We've tried this for a week and, to their disappointment, this week was by far the most organized and clean at the end of each lesson.  No one has earned the job of Art Maid.

Let's talk about grades. The first quarter grades have gone home. In case you were wondering how I grade, the following is a simple rubric to give you an idea.
S+ = completed all assignments with effort while displaying an understanding of the art technique being taught.
S = completed some of the assignments with effort while displaying an understanding of the art technique being taught or completed all the assignments but could display more effort or control with the technique.
S- = did not complete half of the assignments and/or showed little effort to understand the technique or apply it to the art lesson.
I = completed so few of the lessons that there is insufficient evidence to give a grade.

I only see the students once a week and some assignments can take more than one week to complete.  Art is an academic class--deeply integrated into all the subjects and important to an holistic education.  Often times, are lessons are built in steps and building blocks to future lessons. If one lesson is missed, the child may be missing a fundamental lesson. The color wheel lesson is a great example of this. We refer to it constantly. I do expect missed classwork to be completed at home. If you would like to know what your child missed while at the dentist, home ill, vacation, etc., please pop into class between 8 and 8:30am or send me an email and I'll be happy to fill you in. 

I've thrown in something extra fun for the open studio day. Below are three coloring pages of our Artist of the Month from September and October, Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Starry Night and a Frida Kahlo coloring self-portrait. Take a photo of your child's beautifully colored page (only one) with your phone and share it on our wall on NVartworks Facebook page. We will pick winners for the most beautifully crafted by each grade. If your child's class did not earn open studio in class, feel free to print one of the images below to color and share for the contest. Thank you so much for participating and bringing their art to the web---they think this is so fabulous!!

DEADLINE TO BE POSTED ON FACEBOOK IS NOV 10th