Fifth graders have completed a print-making unit. We started by learning to make simple block prints by marking into Styrofoam.
We viewed the 36 Views of Mount Fuji by the Japanese artist Hokusai. While we watched, we discussed the printmaking process, and how it was a bit more challenging with woodcuts in the 1800's! Some even realized that it would take several carvings to put together one print- one carving for each color.
We also noticed the subject of the print series. Mount Fuji was in every scene. Sometimes it was in the distant background. Sometimes it was so close we almost missed that the people were climbing on it in the foreground. Some of the scenes were peaceful views of nature. Others were humorous and included a person chasing a hat, pulling on a stubborn horse in the river, or even flying kites from a rooftop!
After our discussion (and jotting down some ideas), we wrote a haiku poem about Hokusai's work.
We later returned to our printmaking with a greater understanding of the many possibilities in printmaking.
We viewed the 36 Views of Mount Fuji by the Japanese artist Hokusai. While we watched, we discussed the printmaking process, and how it was a bit more challenging with woodcuts in the 1800's! Some even realized that it would take several carvings to put together one print- one carving for each color.
We also noticed the subject of the print series. Mount Fuji was in every scene. Sometimes it was in the distant background. Sometimes it was so close we almost missed that the people were climbing on it in the foreground. Some of the scenes were peaceful views of nature. Others were humorous and included a person chasing a hat, pulling on a stubborn horse in the river, or even flying kites from a rooftop!
After our discussion (and jotting down some ideas), we wrote a haiku poem about Hokusai's work.
We later returned to our printmaking with a greater understanding of the many possibilities in printmaking.