Download Activity 1: Japanese Landscape

Mr. Magin-Fine Art Teacher
A1- Fine Art
High School for Law and Public Service
Principal: Nick Politis
Japanese Landscape Painting
Aim: Students will explore the art of Japanese landscapes and understand Shintoism and
Zen Buddhism affected the style of ink painting.
Objective: Based on what students are learning in their Global history classes about
Japanese history and from what they’ve researched about Shintoism and Zen
Buddhism, students will create a landscape using the pen and ink wash technique
that mimics the style of Japanese landscape ink painting.
Materials:
Pencil
Sketch paper
Ink pen
Brush
Watercolor paper
Procedure:
 Students will look at a number of examples of Japanese ink wash paintings online
and research the origins.
o http://www.askasia.org/AsianArt/slideshow17.htm
o http://oldworld.sjsu.edu/asiangate/gardens/poems_paintings.html
o http://www.ackland.org/art/exhibitions/japanart/2002_25_1.html
o http://www.fukuoka-art-museum.jp/english/ec/html/ec03/02/jurou.htm
o http://char.txa.cornell.edu/nonwest/japan/scholr.gif
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Students will discuss the similarities between a number of Japanese landscape
paintings.
Students will be asked about the style and what elements of art are being used.
Students will be asked to discuss the relationship between the style of the painting
and the principles behind Shintoism and Buddhism.
Elements for discussion: Line gesture, line weight, space, and value
Once students have discussed the style of the paintings, they will be asked to
create a rough draft composition with pencil on sketch paper.
Students will try and mimic the Japanese landscape designs.
After working out a composition in pencil, students will recreate the design using
ink pen on watercolor paper.
Students will then use a wet brush to create a wash and add to the misty
spaciousness of the painting.
Evaluation:
-See Activity Rubric
NY State Standards:
Standard 1- Creating, Performing and, Participating in the Arts.
Standard 2- Knowing and Using Arts Materials and Resources.
Standard 3- Responding and Analyzing the Works of Art.
Standard 4- Understanding the Cultural Dimensions and Contributions of Arts.