the use of colour to express emotions or ideas (e.g. red for danger or passion)

small features added to make the artwork clearer, more realistic, or more meaningful

Complete a story artwork: colour and detail

Art and design

Symbolism and stories in art, craft and design

Drawing: create a character for a story

Develop understanding of symbolism: collect and draw objects

Plan a story artwork including character and objects

Develop a story: creating a scenic composition

Pupils will investigate how artists create meaning and tell stories through their art. They will investigate symbolism in art and develop understanding that visual art, craft and design has multiple meanings beyond its surface depiction to support the development of their own visual literacy.

Meaning and symbolism in art: drawing and painting

Which of these is a detail an artist might add to tell more of the story?

Match each colour to a possible symbolic meaning:

Put these steps in the correct order to complete a symbolic story artwork:

What is one word for a small meaningful part added to an artwork?

By using layered backgrounds and clear scenes

How did Diego Rivera help viewers understand stories in his murals?

What does the foreground in a picture show?

Match the technique to how it improves your artwork:

Grass and rocks near your feet (foreground) 

Put these parts of a scenic composition in order from front to back:

Put these parts of a drawing in the order they are usually added:

What word describes the part of your artwork that the viewer looks at first?

Starter Quiz

How did Diego Rivera help viewers understand stories in his murals?