Art often tells stories. Sometimes by looking carefully at a single work of art, we can find many elements of a great story: the characters, the setting, the plot, the dialogue, and the resolution. On this virtual field trip, we invite you to explore four artworks from the Saint Louis Art Museum’s collection to uncover some of the stories they tell and even write a few stories of your own!
You are welcome to move through these works of art in any order you choose. As you visit each artwork, you will find questions and activities to help you explore further. You can also visit the Create Space at the bottom of the page for an art-making project to try on your own.
Before you begin, you will need to gather something that you can write or draw on, such as a notebook, white board, or tablet, and a pen, pencil, or other writing tool.
Let’s explore…
Character: Who the story is about
Characters are essential parts of a story. When a storyteller is developing characters, they imagine many things about them, like their favorite foods, what they do for fun, where they live, who their family and friends are, and what their personality is like. Sometimes storytellers can find inspiration for their characters in works of art, like this photograph by the artist LeRoy Henderson.
Look closely at this photograph.
Character and Environment
First let’s explore the environment that surrounds the character in this photograph. Imagine you are in the picture with the figure, and you can spin in all directions and see what is around you.
What do you see? Are there smells or sounds? What does the floor feel and/or sound like under your feet?
Write a list of words to describe this character's setting.
Imagine the environment your character can see or walk into beyond this frame.
Pose
Sometimes, to connect with a character in a work of art, it can help to imaginatively “step into their shoes.” If you are comfortable doing so, try to re-create the pose of the figure in this photograph with your body. Or simply imagine you are in the same pose as the figure in the photograph.
- Think of a word to describe how it feels to be in this pose.
- Write or share your word.
As you look at the photograph, imagine you are writing a story and this image is inspiration for your main character. To help brainstorm your character, write or discuss your responses to the following questions. Feel free to answer all the questions or just a few.
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Where is your character?
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What do you imagine your character might be looking at?
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What is your character doing now, in the moment that you see in the photograph?
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What will your character do later today?
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What do you imagine your character might dream about?
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What facial and body expressions give you insight into your character and their thoughts or dreams?
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What is your character’s favorite song, movie, or book?
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If your character was to bring an item for a show and tell, what might they bring?
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What name would you give your character?
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Does your character have a hobby? If so, what is it?
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What is their favorite food?
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What would your character do to have fun?
Describe the character.
Based on what you imagined as you answered the questions above, write a paragraph to describe your character.
Plot: What happens in the story
The plot relates to the main events in a story. A plot is made up of different elements that help the story unfold, including the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Many plots begin with a problem or conflict that the character needs to resolve.
Let's look closely at another work of art.
What do you notice?
What do you wonder about?
What emotions does the painting inspire?
The artist John Martin wanted to capture the emotion of a moment in this painting. Emotions are our feelings. Sometimes we share the same feelings as others, and other times we feel something very different. In the activity below, explore your unique feelings and celebrate all types of emotions.
What do you see that makes you feel that way?
John Martin chose to paint a very tense moment in a character’s story. This is when the character must deal with a conflict or problem. The scene depicted in the painting might even illustrate the climax of the story, which is often the most exciting part. It is when we learn whether or not the character will solve their problem or reach their goal.
As you look at the painting, what do you imagine this character’s goal might be? Based on what you see, do you believe he will reach his goal?
What happens next? You decide!
Now you can become the storyteller. The part of the story after the climax is called the falling action. The falling action tells the events that wrap up the story and lead to resolution.
What do you imagine will happen after the moment you see in the painting? Draw a scene to help tell your idea of what happens next in the story.
Dialogue: A conversation between two or more characters
Dialogue is an important part of many stories because we learn more about the plot and the characters. Dialogue can bring the characters to life and help us understand the events happening in a story.
Look closely at this image of the painting.
Look
Look closely at this painting. Give names to the dog and the serpent.
Imagine
Imagine they are talking to each other. What are they talking about? What do you see that makes you say that?
Write
Write a script of their conversation. Use the names you’ve given them to help guide your conversation. Write at least eight lines.
Act
With a friend, take turns acting out your scripts together. You each get to be one of the characters.
Take a look at the painting's inspiration!
The artist Rufino Tamayo was inspired by a type of Mesoamerican dog-shaped funerary vessel like this one. Funerary vessels are special containers used to commemorate the dead or are placed in the tombs of people who have died.
Add to your dialogue.
This special type of Mesoamerican ceramic inspired Rufino Tamayo to create the dog character in his painting. What objects might inspire your art and stories? Look around your classroom or home. Select an item that you find interesting. It could be anything! Now imagine if that object came to life.
How would it move?
How would it sound?
What would it say?
What if your object met the dog and serpent in Rufino Tamayo’s painting? What would the three characters say to one another?
Add their conversation to the script you wrote earlier.
Imagine your own stories.
Imagine you are walking through a hallway. What does the hallway look like? Try to think of as many descriptive details as you can.
As you are walking, you stumble upon this dresser. It seems strange to find a dresser in this hallway. Maybe you haven’t seen one like it before. Imagine you move closer, curious about the way it looks and what it might hold inside.
Open
Open one of the drawers. What do you find?
Then open another. What is inside?
Imagine
Imagine what you would find if you opened all the drawers.
Write and Draw
Write and draw a comic book that shows what happens when you open the drawers shown in this artwork.
Comics tell stories through a combination of images and words. Sometimes sections of the comic use only images. Sometimes they use speech bubbles to show someone talking or thinking, or they add words along the top to help tell the story.
Tell your story through a combination of pictures and words. Think about the elements of a story: setting, character, plot, climax, and resolution. Who or what is the story about? Are there other characters? What do the characters say to one another? Give your story a beginning, middle, and end.
Create Space
In the works of art and activities above, we explored a variety of ways artists incorporate stories into their artwork and ways we might create our own stories inspired by these works of art. Sometimes artists even create books that are works of art. These are called artist books. Artist books can look similar to books you’ve read, or they can be quite different. Sometimes they include only pictures. Sometimes they include words. Sometimes they are more sculptural, like a pop-up book.
You may want to experiment with making your own artist books. Here’s a project idea to get you started.
Make an artist book using just one piece of paper!
Experiment with turning a single piece of paper into a book to fill with your own stories or drawings. Learn how to add secret pockets, doors, and decorative elements.
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Image Credits
Image credits in order of appearance
LeRoy Henderson, American, born 1936; Black Ballerina, 1992; gelatin silver print; image: 21 1/8 x 14 1/2 inches, sheet: 24 x 19 5/8 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, The Thelma and Bert Ollie Memorial Collection, Gift of Ronald and Monique Ollie 158:2017; © LeRoy Henderson
John Martin, English, 1789–1854; Sadak in Search of the Waters of Oblivion, 1812; oil on canvas; 72 1/8 x 51 5/8 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Friends Fund 1566:1983
Rufino Tamayo, Mexican, 1899–1991; Dog and Serpent, 1943; oil on canvas; 34 1/8 x 44 1/4 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Gift of Morton D. May 234:1954; © 2020 Tamayo Heirs / Mexico / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Standing Dog, c.300 BC–AD 300; Colima, Late Formative period, Mexico; ceramic; 11 1/4 x 16 15/16 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Gift of Famous-Barr Company 39:1970
Tejo Remy, Dutch, born 1960; made for Droog Design, Amsterdam, Netherlands; You Can’t Lay Down Your Memories Chest of Drawers, designed 1991, made 2005; vintage drawers, maple frames, and jute strap; approximate: 56 x 56 x 23 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Funds given by Mr. and Mrs. L. Max Lippman Jr. 78:2005a-u; © Tejo Remy