Make Up Your Own Story

Every artwork has a story to tell. Sometimes the artist tells us what the work is about but other times we have to come up with our own story. Below are three portraits from The Niland Collection. You are going to investigate a painting and the characters in it to figure out who these people might be?

Pick the painting that you find the most interesting.

Activity

Pick one person in the painting and look closely at him or her.
Examine the background and look for clues that might help you answer the following questions.

Where do you think this person is going?

What do you think this person is looking at?

How do you think this person is feeling?

What kind of clothes is this person wearing?

What year do you think it is?

What kind of hobbies do you think this person has?

If you met this person what questions would you ask them?

If there is more than one person in the painting you could trying answering the questions for the other people too.
Once you have come up with a story for each person in the painting try and imagine what they might say to each other and create a conversation.
Use your answers to create a story about the people in the paintings. Who are they? What are they doing? Write their story.

Ask a parent or guardian to take a picture of your work and share it with us.
Don’t forget to sign it with your name and age.

We will post your artwork on our website and Instagram account

@modelsligo / #themodelinsideout

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  • Make Your Own Sea Themed Comic Strip
  • Make Your Own Pirate Map
  • The View from a Porthole Window
  • Make Your Own Pirate Flag
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