Art Friday: Creating stories around paintings

The breakdown" by Yelena Bryksenkova

Art Friday: Paintings that tell a story

Have you ever looked at a painting and just wanted to create story around the imagine?

The one above is perfect for this sort of story telling. Why is she so upset, has she just received bad news? From whom? Or is she just lonely and living in a new city with no friends around? Maybe she is just tired after a day at work and dreams of something better.

This is Anne Powers, 30 years old, single and works at the Franklin Community Library. She loves her job, she loves the people she meets and reading to the children on Thursday afternoons, but she is exhausted with her life. Not only is she working full-time, she goes to the gym 2 evenings a week, completing a short course in creative writing, volunteers at church on Monday nights, cares for her elderly parents and just broken up with her boyfriend. Life sucks and Anne is feeling very fragile as if she is about to break into pieces. To make matters worse, her cat Emma died last week from old age - she is now alone and doesn't know what to do next. 

Anne is just too tired to even make a proper meal and turn the lights on this evening. 

If only her friend Isabelle would call, Isabelle is such a good friend who lifts her spirits and makes her laugh. Isabelle was so kind the other day, she brought Anne a lovely pot plant to cheer her up and a bowl of radishes. "No, I will call Isabelle and perhaps she can come over and we can sit and watch old movies together, eat popcorn and laugh". Anne realises there is no point in moping about she needs to take control of her life and start sorting things out. Perhaps she taken on far too much.  But first, she plans to visit animal rescue tomorrow morning and find a new furry friend to keep her company. Perhaps she might buy two kittens this time . . . 

This is a great exercise to do with children. Not only does it get their creative juices going - being creative is very good for both young and old, but it also makes them really look at the painting and see the detail.  Each of us will come up with different stories which is why this can be so much fun to do.

Give it a try and let me know what short story you write!

We are never too young to be storytellers :)

In today's Art Friday I have included paintings that are perfect for story telling. It doesn't matter that the story is different to what the artist intended, that makes it all the more interesting. 

By Satomi Ichikawa 

This would make a great story, let your imagination run wild - any thoughts!?

Why is she sitting there - waiting for who?

By Michael Sowa - this requires a very good imagination! Up for the challenge?

"At the tram stop" by Paul-Gustave Fischer

Painintg by James Tissot - What is this girl up to?

By Alfredo Rodriguez - did he strike it rich or perhaps his family suffered great poverty in his absences, did he return?

Painting by Kevin Walsh - new migrants just arriving or perhaps leaving. Where are they heading, why. What will their new lives be like. Perhaps they are running away from a secret, an Agatha Christie murder!!

by Carlton Alfred Smith (British, 1853-1946), "Recalling the Past"

One for the children

Mama Mu by Swedish Jujja Wieslander - this one will certainly get you thinking - a cow on a bike!!   

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