This wax resist winter landscape project was part of a Hundertwasser-inspired series I introduced in my classes around Christmas time.
The wax resist technique is super versatile, and kids absolutely love the magic of seeing their snowflakes, stars, and moon appear as they paint.
Inspired by Hundertwasser’s playful, organic style, this project is perfect for creating unique seasonal cards or winter artwork.
Who was Hundertwasser?
Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928–2000) was an Austrian artist and architect who saw the world as a place of wild, colorful possibilities—and he believed straight lines were the enemy of creativity! To him, rigid lines and uniform shapes made buildings feel lifeless and disconnected from nature. Instead, Hundertwasser championed organic, flowing forms that celebrated the unpredictable beauty of the natural world.
His art and buildings are bursting with vibrant colors, mismatched windows, and wavy floors. Picture buildings topped with lush rooftop gardens and trees growing out of balconies—that’s Hundertwasser’s style! He wanted human-made spaces to live and breathe alongside nature, creating harmony between people and the environment. His famous creations, like the Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna, are visual reminders that the natural world is anything but straight and predictable.
How to Create a Wax Resist Winter Landscape
Materials
- Pencils for sketching
- Wax crayons or oil pastels (especially white)
- Watercolor paints or watered-down gouache
- Soft paintbrushes
- Watercolor paper
Instructions
Pencil Sketching.
Encourage the kids to start by sketching their landscape with pencil. They can create imaginative houses, trees, or little city buildings inspired by Hundertwasser’s rounded, flowing shapes.
Tip: Remind them not to press too hard with the pencil since we’ll be covering the lines with crayons and watercolor later.
Add Wax Resist
Have the kids use crayons to trace over their pencil drawing adding details and textures. Remeber to use the white crayon or oil pastel to add snowflakes, stars, or a moon!
The wax will act as a resist, making these details “pop” when they will paint over them.
Trick: Encourage kids to press down firmly with the wax crayon to properly coat the paper.
Paint with Watercolor or Gouache
Time for the magic to happen! Using watercolor or watered-down gouache, let the kids fill in their landscape, blending wintery colors like blues, purples, and greens over the entire scene.
The wax details will magically appear as they paint!
Let Dry & Display
Once dry, these winter landscapes make lovely cards or seasonal decorations.
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