The Setting Tells the Tale by Mary Erickson Ph.D. Education Consultant & Professor of Art International Guild of Realism Eighth Annual Juried Exhibition

Artists can tell stories in their artworks through their choice of a main subject (person, place, or thing) but also through the things they choose to surround that subject. The things around a subject are called the setting. What setting did the artist create for the truck? Dave Kurz

What do the people, places, and things around the truck (gas station in the trees, signs, car and people holding a map) tell you about what’s going on in the painting? What do you think happened before? After? Dave Kurz

What story might involve this teapot? Who might use it? Where might it be used?

What setting did the artist create for the teapot? What do the flowers, vase, and cup add to the story? Cat Corcilius

Picture a boy and a girl drinking milk. Now, imagine them in different settings: by the refrigerator in the school cafeteria at a party on a picnic in a park. The story changes depending on the setting.

What did the artist include in the setting of this painting? What story does this painting tell? Steve Rude

The artist placed the violin in an odd setting. She combined indoor objects (clock, table, sheet music, books and cloth) with natural objects from the outdoors (cloudy sky, tree branches and birds). What story do you “read” in this painting? Barbara Rudolph

Artists can also add to the story they are telling by carefully choosing the position of the main subject or the point of view from which it is seen.

Which dog is seen from: the front? the back? the side? slightly below?above?

What is your viewpoint in each of these photos? back? front? side? above? directly below?slightly below?

Which horse is seen from: the front? the back? the side? slightly below? above? Charlene Watchman, Navajo Artist

Which rabbit is seen from: the front? the back? the side? slightly below?above?

Which shoe is seen from: the front? the back? the side? directly below?above?

Your assignment is to choose a main subject or character and make up a story about it. You may choose one of these for your main character or something else.

Next, create a setting to help tell your story. Will your setting be realistic or imaginary? Will your character be inside or outside?

Is your story told best with your character up close or at a distance? Can you find the rabbit on the motorcycle? What do you think he’s doing there?

What is the car doing in all these places? How did it get there? Where is it going? Between rock strata at eye level. Among tomatoes below eye level. On a wall slightly above eye level. Between booksOn a tree branch On an incline

The spots on the horse help hide her on the rock. Can you find her on the edge of the Grand Canyon? What happened to bring her there?

1.Select a character. 2.Think about which position (or point of view) you will show.

3. Create a setting for your character that helps tell a story. Start with a light pencil drawing. Then trace your lines and add color.

4. Give your drawing a title. These drawings might tell different parts of the same story. Cruising through the Country. Waiting for a Cow.

An elementary student drew his golden retriever. How does the setting surrounding the dog suggest a story? How does the position of the dog add to the story?

The drama increases with a closer image of the dog, Zeus, and the cat in the confined (closed in) space of a backyard.

What character will you choose? How will position or viewpoint help tell your story? What setting will you create for your story? What title will you give your drawing? Vala Ola, Dash and Grandeur

Thank you to the following artists for the use of their artworks in this presentation. Cat Corcilius Dave Kurz Vala Ola Steve Rude Barbara Rudolph Support for this curriculum unit was made possible by a grant from the Friends of Tempe Center for the Arts.