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HUNDERTWASSER PAINTINGs
Celebrate Earth Week with another project in our series of DIY art activities for kids.THE BOOK
HUNDERTWASSER FOR KIDS: HARVESTING DREAMS
By BARBARA STIEFF"Painting is to dream," said Hundertwasser. "When the dream is over, I don"t remember anything I dreamed about. The painting, however, remains. It is the harvest of my dream." This statement is at the heart of this engaging introduction to the work of the eccentric artist, humanitarian, environmentalist, and architect who dedicated his life to the beautification of the world we live in. Dozens of activities in this book will captivate children of all ages and take them on a journey through a magical world of creativity and self-fulfillment. The projects here help young readers discover nature"s gifts, encourage exploration of what lies outside one"s doorstep, and emphasize the importance of ecological harmony as vital to living a happier life. Children and their parents will return again and again to this colorful and entertaining tribute to an artist whose legacy offers hope and inspiration for all of us.
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WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- Pencil
- Eraser
- Crayons
- Watercolour paper
- Colouring media ie. watercolours or acrylics
- Container with water **This project can also be modified to be a colouring project using pencil crayons instead.
WHAT to do
1. Read Harvesting Dreams and use the links below to explore his work. 2. Look at how he used different types of lines, shapes, colour and pattern in his artwork and buildings.
discovering hundertwasser
As a young child, Friedensreich Hundertwasser grew up in Vienna during WWII and witnessed much destruction. Yet, Hundertwasser remained positive through his curiosity and wonder of the beauty in nature around him. Spirals and circles, wavy lines and colour all became signature components to his art and architecture.
Looking at shapes and patterns
1. Using a pencil and eraser, allow your child to use their full imagination to create a picture of how they view the world should be. Let your child be the architects! Parents of younger children can collaborate as well. Older students can use their creativity to create a poster about human impact on nature and earth to relay a positive message. 2. You can start off with a horizontal horizon line and allow children to create buildings, animals, forests or whatever they would like to see in their world. They may change their lines to create a wavy design. Ask younger children to point out the lines and shapes they used in their drawing. 3. Once the drawing is complete, trace all the lines using crayons. The lines should be bold so younger students may need adults to help with going over lines and pressing to apply this.
ADDING COLOUR
1. Look at a colour wheel and discuss the primary and how they mix to create secondary colours.
Take a look at warm (reds, orange, yellow) versus cool colours (blues, greens, purples). Discuss how warm colours jump forward and cool colours recede. Look at how when primary and secondary colours are mixed they create tertiary colours. For example, Yellow + Green = Yellow-Green.
2. Select a colour media of your choice - a simple watercolors set, acrylic inks or watered down acrylics. For watercolours you’ll need a palette, water container, brushes and paper towel. 3. Add water to paints and apply to your picture to create beautiful washes of colour. In areas that are green for example experiment with yellow-greens and blue-green stripes. If orange, try some accents in yellow-orange or red-orange. 4. Have fun!
More student work to inspire you
NATURE & ART
Before creating your artwork take a walk in nature and discover lines and shapes in different places.
Ask the following questions:- What lines do you see in a leaf?
- What types of curves in a pine cone?
- How could these shapes be used to inspire a building?
- Who is an architect and what do they do?
If you could design your own home inspired by something in nature, what would it look like?
