1. Illustrating prose or lyrics
Narrative Drawings
Illustrating prose or lyrics

2. Narrative artwork tells a story
In this unit you will explore ways to tell a story through artwork.
All artwork has a story behind it: It can be a complicated meaning, a hidden narrative, or simply made for beauty.

3. What’s the story? Sketchbook Activity #1
Choose one of the images on the following slides.
Discuss the image with your classmates. What do you think is the story behind the artwork? Why? What visual clues help you think that is the story?
Write in your sketchbook what you think is the story behind the artwork.
We will reveal the true meanings behind the artworks after each group has discussed and finished writing.

4. American gothic, Grant Wood
The artist found inspiration for the painting when he saw a small house built in Gothic style. Grant immediately drew a sketch of the house on an envelope he had on him. Then, he mentally visualized which people would be perfect for a house like that. He zeroed in on his own sister and his dentist. The painting reflects the artist's keen observation of people and his sense of humour.

5. The Scream, Edvard Munch
The artist himself scribbled in his diary about how ‘The Scream’ actually came to his imaginations. One fine evening, the artist was walking through the city roads. For a second, he stopped walking and looked at the skies. All he saw was the setting sun and clouds, which appeared in blood red color. There was also a faint creaking sound from under the city. According to him, the whole setting made him feel like the nature was screaming for something. Then, he went on to paint The Scream with blood red clouds and screaming backgrounds. Thus, the painting was born. There are four versions of this painting and a couple of them are a part of world famous art galleries and others a part of someone’s private collection.

6. Guernica, Pablo Picasso
Guernica is a portrayal of the 1937 bombing by German and Italian warplanes of the city of Guernica, in which innocent lives suffered or died.

7. Sketchbook Activity #2
Think about a dramatic moment in your life. If you were to paint this moment in your life, what would the painting look like? Describe this moment in a short paragraph AND in a sketch. Here are some guiding questions:
What is the setting?
What is the time of day?
What is in the foreground, middle ground, and background of the painting?
What are you doing?
How are you posed?
What is your attire?
What does your facial expression indicate?
Who else is in the painting with you?
What are they doing?
How are they posed?
What are they wearing?
What do their facial expressions communicate?
What is the mood of the painting? How is that communicated?
What size is the painting? Small? Large?

8. Bringing words to life drawing
Choose a phrase, song lyric, or line of a poem and visually illustrate the concept without using words in the image.
Sketch out your idea in your sketchbook. Make sure you have clear evidence of planning. Guiding questions: What will be the subject? How will the composition look? What colors will you use? What mediums will you use?
Decide on your paper (minimum size 12x14”) and begin drawing.

9. Narrative painting examples
“I picked up all the pieces you threw away and put it together night and day.”
“They’re the loneliest put into jars.”

10. “I like to make myself believe that earth turns slowly
“I like to make myself believe that earth turns slowly. Ten million fireflies.”
“You are the heart that beats inside of me, so don’t give up on me, don’t give up on me.”
“A shot in the dark A past lost in space Where do I start? The past and the chase You hunted me down Like a wolf, a predator I felt like a deer in love lights”