Storytelling in art - art techniques for Children

Since ancient times people tell stories. Many of these stories are visualized in art and on utensils. They are passed on and depicted over and over again. During these lessons I take children on a journey through arthistory and arttechniques. With the help of ancient stories (Danae and Perseus, The head of Medusa, The 12 labors of Hercules, ...) I teach them to look at art and recognize the stories. In the mean time I learn them how they can visualize their own story. The emphasis is on free association, fantasy and getting acquainted with the different art techniques that artists have used in the past until now.

GREEK VASES

Based on the greek story about Danae and her son Perseus, who got cast into the sea in a wooden chest, I showed them the different types of greek vases and how the technique influenced the pictorial form. Then I asked them to draw/cut their own vase and draw an element of the story or their own story.

MOSAICS

Who doesn't know Medusa, the most beautiful Gorgon with her hair of snakes and how Perseus with hermes's winged sandals, Athena's shield and hades Helmet of invisibility was capable evading her gaze and take of her head? Children like this story, which made it the perfect topic for our own Mosaic.

FRESCO'S

On his way to fulfill his quest Perseus sees Andromeda bound to a rock. He falls in love and in exchange for killing the monster which is surrounding her, he is allowed to marry her and takes her to Greece. As a kind of forerunner "the princess and the dragon" this story appeals to the imagination and as such perfect to make the kids create their own fresco painting.

RELIEF CLAY

SURREALISM

Greek mythology even inspired the automatic drawings of Joan Miro. Think about the Argonaut Polyphemus, who joined Jason on his quest to find the Golden Fleece. So as little Miro's the kids were drawing blind the story I was telling.

RELIEF BRONZE

GODS MEAL

And as all stories end with a celebration on the mount of Olympus we've ended this block with the creation of our own Gods meal.

The Portrait throughout the years

Just as we now edit selfies to look more beautiful or use instagram to create an image, people wanted asked an artist to make a portrait to convey an image of themselves or to record their presence forever.

THE TRYPTICH

During the Middle Ages they did not portray real people, but Saints. Every saint could be recognized through the attributes, visualizing their story. Do you know how to recognize St. Maarten? A white horse, a red cape he cuts in 2and a sword. Based on this knowledge the kids made a self-portrait as Tryptich, based on questions as : What makes them happy? What are they afraid of ? Do they have a pet? Brothers? Sisters? ..

PORTRAIT IN PROFILE

Following the profile portraits of monarchs on coins, people In the early renaissance often choose a portrait of themselves in profile, to suggest they were important. After drawing eachothers shadow profile they could give it a Royal appearance.

MANNERIST PORTRAIT

In the late renaissance the portraits became more realistic, the full face was depicted and characteristics were emphasized. From the 17th century onwards the portraits became more loose resulting in portraits with elongated faces and disproportionate limbs.

SCULPTING FACIAL EXPRESSION

POPART PORTRAIT

HOW TO DEPICT MOVEMENT IN ART

For hundreds of years, artists have tried to depict an illusion of movement into their art. Until the 18th century they did it by freezing a movement after which the viewer completed the movement in his mind. For example it took the Japanese artist Hokusai 30 years to find the way to precisely shape and arrange waves, boats and figures in such a way that he succeeded to suggest movement and terrifying power.