Hundertwasser “Choose Your Own Adventure” Landscapes!

The paintings, architectural designs and graphic arts works of Austrian born artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser are wonderful inspiration for a fantasy styled landscape lesson. My 7^th grade students looked at a variety of Hundertwasser works and discussed recurring themes and design elements before beginning their own unique landscapes with oil pastels and watercolors. I format this lesson like a “Choose Your Own Adventure” activity, guiding students through some basic steps to help them emulate Hundertwasser’s unique style. The results are striking: clearly Hundertwasser-inspired, but so unique and individual to each student! Unexpected, fun and successful for even those students who balk at drawing.

Here’s a breakdown of what we do:

Reference pictures of a variety of Hundertwasser works that can be downloaded and printed:

hundertwasser-1 Download

hundertwasser-2 Download

hundertwasser-3 Download

hundertwasser-4 Download

hundertwasser-5 Download

hundertwasser-6 Download

hundertwasser-7-docx Download

Here are pictures of the packet I made to help the kids “Choose their own Hundertwasser”. (Sorry that I don’t have this in a better, shareable format!)

The initial drawing is done with pencil, then Sharpie. You may get the idea that my intent is to help them really fill the paper and to think beyond just placing a row of houses along the bottom edge of their paper. The “see through overlap” instruction is in reference to the way many of Hundertwasser’s paintings show a transparency-like effect in their design. I also encourage students to go into their drawing and create line thickness variety as demonstrated in this picture:

Next, Students add oil pastel to their drawings prior to painting with the goal of having about 25% of the picture covered with either pattern and/or small colored-in areas. Here is a picture of a poster I have to give them some ideas on this initial color step:

Students have finished Sharpie-ing their drawing and have started going in with oil pastel. Pattern, small filled-in areas and some blending are the goals to add preliminary color to about 25% of their picture!

Students finished with Sharpie and oil pastel may begin to complete their landscapes with watercolor. Tips for success: Remind them to keep their paint thin and liquid— I find that my 7^th graders constantly want to use the watercolor TOO concentrated. This will result in it drying “sticky”, plus it won’t bead off the oil pastel cleanly. Using a wide variety of bright colors and allowing NO BLANK SPOTS are other expectations I establish with my students.