Through narrative art, artists find a voice to educate, share whimsical stories, and incorporate humor and play into the art-making process. In this lesson, students were introduced to narrative art as they looked at Lascaux Cave paintings, the contemporary paintings of Inka Essenhigh, Chinese shadow puppetry, and 3D marionettes. Researching artists such as Wayne White and Warren King, artists who create amazing puppets on a grand scale, students discovered the possibilities and limitations of puppets in the art world.
Art teachers encourage students to tell stories through their art. Young students listen to a read-aloud and create clay creatures inspired by the book, elementary students illustrate influential figures in art history, middle-school students juxtapose natural and human-made elements through narrative compositions, high-school students manipulate images to create imagined landscapes, and more.
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