Drawing: create a character for a story

Art and design

Symbolism and stories in art, craft and design

Develop understanding of symbolism: collect and draw objects

Plan a story artwork including character and objects

Develop a story: creating a scenic composition

Complete a story artwork: colour and detail

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

What does 'mood' in character design mean?

To decorate the paper with different patterns

To show how the character feels or what they are like

Why do artists use colour in character design?

How someone feels or the feeling a picture gives

The process of creating the look and personality of a character

Match these colours to moods they often show in art:

Put these steps in the correct order for designing a character:

Put these steps to creating a character design sketch in order:

The passing of time and life’s shortness

What do symbols like skulls, wilting flowers, and hourglasses in Vanitas paintings show?

A picture or object that stands for something else

The ideas and customs of a group of people

To show beliefs and stories about gods 

To express cultural identity and history 

Match the type of artwork to the use of symbolism:

Think about how the symbols relate to the story of the artwork

Put these ideas in order to understand symbolism in art:

What word means a picture or object that stands for something else?

What word means the customs, beliefs and ideas of a group of people?

Starter Quiz

What do symbols like skulls, wilting flowers, and hourglasses in Vanitas paintings show?