Have you ever thought about what an artist was thinking when creating a work? What the meaning behind it is? Why the artist used certain colors or types of lines? This is a pretty normal reaction when viewing a work of art. We want to learn everything we can about an artwork and the reasoning behind it. So, what if I told you that you CAN teach your students to think more critically about an artwork and make it fun for them. There is always a story to be told, sometimes we just need to look for the clues.
Reading an art work is much like reading a story. By using the 5 W's & How, students are able to break the image down into something they are able to understand a bit easier.
Who:
Who is in the image
What:
What is happening in the artwork? Tell the story.
What medium(s) did the artist use?
What elements & principles were used?
Where:
Where is the story taking place?
Place/setting?
When:
When is the story taking place?
What time of day is it?
Is the happening now, in the future or has it already happened?
Why:
Why do you think the artist portrayed this imagery?
Use clues from the image that will allow you to make a connection
How:
How do the characters feel?
How does the image make you feel?
The Teaching Channel has great video on examining the stories behind art. The teacher, Mr. Durocher, gets his students to think differently about Van Gogh's Starry Night by first telling a very imaginative story about himself inside the painting. It's so refreshing to me that I am not the only art teacher that believes that Art is it's own language and teaches students in this way. Art & Language Arts go hand in hand, no doubt about it!
Have you picked up The Story Behind Art: Graphic Organizer from my TpT store yet? Click the picture to grab yours.
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