What hidden stories can a still life painting tell if we imagine the world behind the canvas?
Age Range: 10 to 12
Activity Focus: Creative Writing
Objective: Students will use visual art to inspire narrative creativity by imagining the stories behind still life paintings, connecting artistic elements with narrative writing skills.
Materials:
- Still Life by Paul O. Zelinsky
- Prints or digital displays of various still life paintings (classical and modern)
- Writing materials (journals, pencils, or digital tools for word processing)
- Chart paper or whiteboard for brainstorming
Question before reading:
- What do you think makes a still life painting interesting if it is supposed to stay still?
- Imagine the objects in a still life could move—what would they do?
- How do you think an artist feels when creating a still life? How might it change if the objects came to life?
Introduce the concept of still life and discuss how artists arrange objects to tell a story. Mention that in Still Life, things don’t stay still, and challenge students to think about the rules of art and what happens when they’re broken.
Read Aloud:
While reading, pause on key illustrations to ask:
- Why do you think the objects are moving? What might they be trying to do?
- How do you think the artist feels when the still life won’t stay still?
- What clues do the illustrations give about the objects’ personalities or motives?
Encourage learners to make connections between the artwork and the unfolding story. Highlight the interplay of visual humor and narrative in the illustrations.
Discussion:
After the read-aloud, discuss the following:
- What surprised you most about the story?
- How do you think the story would change if the artist were a child or a different type of character?
- What might the objects in a different still life (e.g., a vase of flowers or a basket of toys) do if they came to life?
- What emotions did the still life objects display? How can you show emotions in your writing?
Activity:
Behind the Canvas: Writing the Hidden Story
- Show learners various still life paintings and let them pick one that inspires them.
- Ask them to imagine what happens in the scene before and after the painting was made:
- Who arranged the objects? Why are they there?
- What relationships or conflicts might the objects have with each other?
- What happens when no one is looking?
- Learners will write a short story or script based on their imagined scenario, bringing the still life to life with dialogue, action, and descriptive language.
Extension:
Collaborative Storyboard Project
In small groups, learners can create a visual storyboard or comic strip for their imagined still life story. They can illustrate key moments in their narrative, such as when the objects come to life or how they interact with the artist.
Tags:
- Age Range: Age 10-12
- Competencies: Creativity and Innovation, Critical Thinking, Communication
- Type of Activity: Creative Writing, Art Activity
- Content Areas: Art, ELA
- Calendar: Art Month, National Novel Writing Month