Grade: 1.6Print: The Great Wave off Kanagawa, ca. 1830-32, Polychrome woodblock print, ink and color on paperOriginal size: 10 1/8 x 14 15/16 in. (25.7 x 37.9 cm):

Artist: Katsushika Hokusai (kats-SHEE-kah HOH-k-sahy)Materials:30 sheets WHITE 8 x 10 paperRed, yellow, blue and green tempera paintScissorsScrapbook paper – (there are some small pads in the art docent closet)Glue BrushesContainers for water Plastic forks

Biography: (note- do step one of the project before discussing this artist so the paint has time to dry)

Hokusai's work was a type of Japanese art which we now call ukiyoe ("pictures of the floating world"). They are meant to celebrate the fragile beauty of ordinary life.

He was born in Edo, what is now Tokyo, in 1760. At age 15 Hokusai began as an

apprentice as a woodcut engraver. His teacher was a ukiyo-e master painter, who taught him to paint actors. Soon Hokusai prints of kabuki actors were published and he became one of the most popular of these artists who depicted people in everyday activities.

Hokusia developed an eclectic style and achieved success with surimono prints ("printed things" for special occasions, such as cards and announcements), picture books and novelettes, album prints, paintings, and ink sketches. He experimented with Western-style perspective and coloring and later concentrated on samurai themes and Chinese subjects.

He worked with a driving energy and was quite a showman. He once made a picture that was so enormous that it could only be seen from rooftops. Then he painted two sparrows on a single grain of rice! Though he was frequently (and rather proudly) broke, he never turned down a job. He changed his residence over 90 times, marketed himself with pure genius, enjoyed fame in his own lifetime and painted until he died. Conservative estimates mark his total output at an astounding 30,000 pieces.

Presentation + Questions to ask the children:

What is the first thing you notice? This is the focal point. The focal point is what first draws your eye, something that stands out.

Has anyone been to the ocean? Has anyone gone into the waves? How did that feel? How does this picture make you feel?

Has anyone been fishing on a boat? Was it hard or easy to catch the fish? How do you think the fishermen were feeling? Why do you think they were fishing in the ocean?

Does this look realistic or imagined? Hokusai depicts the scene from this series of prints not exactly as they appear in nature, but as if they are viewed from many angels and in varied circumstances. It may appear as realistic but it is not.

What time of day do you think it is? What season do you think it is?

Talk about the colors used in this print and elaborate on the art of how woodblock prints are made.

(In the Hollow of a Wave off the Coast at Kanagawa) - This magnificent and powerful wave is a woodcut print. The wave’s whitecaps curve up and over and numerous finger-like curls pointing downward to the slender boats below with their tiny

terrified occupants. The eye is led to snow-capped Mt. Fuji, Japan’s mountain, low and distant behind the turbulent ocean. The waves are firmly yet gentle, outlined in black with dark and light contrasts of color, adding drama to the event. 

Art Project:

Children will create a sailboat collage.

1. Give each child a piece of 8 x 10 heavy drawing paper. They will then draw a line in the middle of the paper. One half is to be the sky and the other half is to be the ocean. They will then paint the sky and ocean. Encourage them to make long strokes with the brush and be sure to mix yellow and red. The ocean should be done the same way – painting blue with green. After the ocean is painted have them use a plastic fork to create waves – the waves can be dramatic like Hokusai’s. Set aside to dry.

2. Next, have the children cut the sailboat parts. First make the hull of the boat which is a rectangle with the ends cut off to make a trapezoid.

3. Demonstrate how to cut two sails with one bigger than the other. If the kids cut their sails too small, encourage them to keep them. They just started another boat! Encourage the kids to make at least one large sailboat but two are fine. If one is smaller; even better. This gives you the opportunity to demonstrate perspective (large sailboat close to the bottom of the page, small sailboat towards the top).

4. Making sure the ocean and sky are dry – glue the sailboats on.

Additional internet resources:

Ukiyo-e woodblock printmaking video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8uF3PZ3KGQ&feature=related

Vocabulary: woodprint, relief printmaking