Lesson video

Hi, I'm Miss Blue, and I'm really excited to be learning with you today.

I hope you find our lesson as interesting as I do.

Let's get started.

The outcome of this lesson is, "I can create a cohesive narrative that is clear in my presentation." Let's go over our keywords.

Narrative, a story or message that you tell through your artwork.

Creative journey, the process you go through while developing your ideas, experimenting and creating your artwork.

Sequence, a specific order of steps or ideas, like scenes in a story or stages in your artwork.

Thematic, a central idea or theme that runs through the body of work.

Let's start with creating an authentic narrative.

So what makes a collection of artwork compelling? Jun says, "It's full of textures, colors, ideas and meaning." Have a look at this example of a sketchbook on the left.

It's about telling a story, sharing your creative journey, and connecting with your audience.

For me, what makes an artwork compelling is the larger story that's told.

Perhaps the artist touches on a personal connection and explores their identity through their work in some way.

This usually elicits a larger emotional response from the audience and means it might connect with more people.

When the artwork conveys emotional honesty and vulnerability, it allows the viewer to find themselves within it.

I also love when artwork or a sketchbook show a real journey of development, like an evolution through evidence of research, reflection, and growth, showing all of the layers of thought, perhaps touching on primary and secondary research, as well as personal observation.

It seems like this sketchbook has done just that, with a range of eye-catching cutouts and textures.

This student has got some really exciting work.

What makes you stop and really look at someone's work? What makes you want to know more? Pause the video here while you come up with some ideas.

Sofia says, "It's about the narrative, the story or message you're telling through your work.

Not just a literal story, it could be a feeling, an idea, a question, something that connects all the pieces together." Let's decide if this is true or false.

The narrative you present must always be a literal, chronological story to be effective.

Pause the video while you decide if this is true or false.

If you said false, you would be correct.

Why? Because while a literal story can be a narrative, it's not the only effective approach.

The narrative can also be a feeling, an idea, a question, or a thematic connection that unifies the artwork.

How do you tell the story of your own creative journey successfully? Pause the video while you come up with some ideas.

Let's hear some thoughts.

You might have said that you need to show how your ideas developed.

Make it easy for someone new to understand.

Point out the problems and how you overcame them.

Make selections of work and actively choose what not to include.

These are all great points.

Remember that presentation matters.

You wouldn't hang your work in a gallery poorly.

Izzy says, "I tried to take care to communicate my ideas through the work and the presentation of my work." Sketch picks are a great way to display your ideas.

As an exhibiting textile artist, I have to make sure that I display my work with care.

One example is a large-scale printed textile piece.

I was really pleased with the final design, but the last stage was hemming the textile so that it hung nicely, and thinking about what the viewer might see if they're walking from behind.

Finishing always matters.

Think about your creative journey as a story.

What were the highs and lows? Where did you start and where did you end up? What ideas did you meet along the way? What adventures did you have with materials and techniques? What challenges impacted your progression? Pause the video while you reflect on these points.

Jacob says, "I'm going to tell my story using a sequence to show how the idea developed from A to B.

I'll include things that went wrong to show how I overcame the problems." How do you ensure your story's authentic? Pause the video here while you come up with an answer.

Jacob says, "I think that means not making up a new story at the end to make everything fit together.

It should be real and true to my work and ideas." Keep returning to the main idea and theme to stay focused.

What is the central message or idea you want to communicate through your work? Izzy says, "The idea I had was to create a costume stream piece for Hippolyta.

I took inspiration from her character in the play.

The key things I try to communicate was strength, power, and her Amazonian heritage." It looks like she's created a really strong outcome.

What are the key themes that run through your work? Pause the video while you reflect on this.

Jacob says, "At every stage of my project, I was focused on layering and holes.

I like looking through negative spaces and creating depth.

I wanted to explore surface detail, stitch, and texture, as well as print." Have a look at his outcome on the left.

Which example is authentic? A, at the end of the project, you create a fictional story about a hidden city that inspired the paintings.

B, you realize your paintings reflect feelings of anxiety.

You arrange the paintings to show the intensity of these feelings.

C, you ask your friends and use their interpretations to create a narrative, even if those interpretations do not align.

Pause the video while you decide on the correct answer.

If you said B, you would be correct.

It is authentic to realize that your paintings reflect feelings of anxiety and arrange the paintings to show the intensity of those feelings.

Here are some examples of artists creating cohesive narratives.

Thomas Owen is constantly looking for inspiration for his layered work.

He invites us to think about what is important to a person or places identity.

Laetitia Ky uses her hair as a medium to create sculptures and send powerful messages about society, Black culture, and female empowerment.

Kay Rufai is an artist, psychologist, and filmmaker whose work centers on mental health, masculinity, and culture, often within the Black community.

Emilia Rigova's art explores the complexities of Romani identity, challenging stereotypes and reclaiming narratives.

Ana Segovia explores Mexican identity.

She focuses on gender, sexuality, and the ways in which these intersect with cultural and historical narratives.

Your task now is to reflect on your creative journey.

Identify keywords, phrases, and images that relate to your artwork and your creative journey.

You could use post-it notes to list ideas while reviewing your work.

Think about what inspired you? What materials did you use and why? What emotions did you experience? What messages do you hope to leave your viewer with? Pause the video here while you work on this task.

There are many ways to record your ideas.

You may have said something like Sam.

"I've been keeping my work loose, so I was able to select work from my folder and blue tac take it to the wall to look for visual and thematic connections." Here's another example.

Laura says, "My work is in my sketchbook already, so I went through it and I did post-it notes to list and track ideas, themes, and visual styles." Your task now is to tell the story of your creative journey to someone.

You could discuss with a friend, carer, teacher, et cetera.

Video your work and record yourself speaking over it.

Write a short summary.

You should explain: what were the highs and lows? Where did you start and where did you end up? What ideas did you meet along the way? What adventures did you have with materials and techniques? What challenges impacted your progression? Pause the video here while you work on the task.

There are many ways to record your ideas, but you may have said something like Aisha.

"I was interested in how I could use graphic design to make statements about the world and how I think it should be different.

At first, I considered all the elements that could support my message.

I looked at Barbara Kruger to see how she used bold images and text to challenge viewers.

I also thought about how to use color and symbolism to create impact.

I wanted my work to be shocking and attract attention." Jun says, "I struggled to find the right balance between message and visual effect, but I eventually found that I could combine powerful imagery with strong, contrasting colors and clear symbols to communicate my ideas effectively.

My final piece is a poster that highlights social inequality, using striking images, bold text, and symbolic colors to provoke thought and inspire change." Laura says, "I experimented with digital editing software.

I combined images and textures to make contrasting compositions.

I also explored printing techniques to produce physical zines, which allowed me to play with layout, typography, photo montage, and material textures.

This hands-on process helped me understand how different media can enhance the message and emotional impact of my work." Now, let's have a look at refining the visual impact.

A key aspect of a story is that it must make sense.

Jacob says, "When I look at my work, I don't know where to start." Izzy says, "Try layering your work out and physically moving the pieces like a jigsaw to help you see the connections." That's good idea.

Look at how these experiments from different stages in your project clearly connect.

A creative journey can be chronological, arranging work in the order it was created to show the development of ideas.

Thematic, grouping work by theme or subject matter to highlight connections and contrasts.

Emotional, arranging work to create a specific emotional experience.

Review the visual qualities of your work for connections.

Andeep says, "I found visual links between these pieces so I can present them as one strand of my larger narrative." This is a great example of using various techniques to explore the same theme and subject matter.

Visual balance is really important.

Think about the size, shape, and color of each piece and how they relate to each other.

Avoid creating a layer that feels too heavy on one side or too chaotic overall.

Review your work with a partner to ensure it flows visually.

You can ask, where does your eye go first? Does it flow naturally? Is there enough or too much space between pieces? Do any colors distract or compete? Does the layout help you understand the narrative and theme? Pause the video while you have a go at this.

Another way to convey a short story is to describe it.

Annotations can highlight: techniques and materials, background information, titles and dates for artists, personal anecdotes and stories that connect to your own life experiences.

Which answer is least important when creating a narrative in your creative journey? Is it A, arranging work in a sequence? B, grouping work by theme or subject matter? C, selecting work that's the right size or shape to fill the gaps? Or D, arranging work to create a specific emotional experience? Pause the video while you decide on the correct answer.

If you said C, you would be correct.

Selecting work that's the right size or shape to fill the gaps is the least important when creating a narrative in your creative journey.

Your task now is to review your work, its sequence and flow.

You could move work around to consider its impact if possible.

There are many ways to record your ideas, but you may have said something like Sam.

"I laid my workout and began to find the visual and conceptual connections and sequences that I wanted to together when I mount it onto boards." Laura says, "I reviewed my book, rearranged some elements and added references to artists and visuals to improve clarity.

I also removed work that distracted from my journey.

I'll keep this safe in a separate folder." Task B is to provide context to support your narrative.

You should include: dates, titles, and references, descriptive language and specialist vocabulary, personal anecdotes and stories that connects to your own life experiences.

On the next slide, you will find some key vocabulary to help you.

Content: Subject, genre, landscape, portrait, self-portrait, representation, portrayal, abstract, nature, themes, ideas, communication stories, narratives, conceptual, symbol, appropriated, traditional, culture.

Color: Dull, bold, realistic, abstract, complimentary, primary, secondary, tertiary, warm, cool, pastoral, muted, harmonious, intense, monochromatic, neon, rich.

Process: Sculpture, three-dimensional, impasto, printmaking, screen print, etching, lino, woodcut, relief, installation, space, digital arts, design, graphics, typography, craft, weaving, embroidery, smocking, entrapment, ceramics, carving, construction, drawing, mixed media, collage, scale, canvas, exhibition, acrylic, oil painting, watercolor, oil pastel chalk, charcoal.

Mood: Uneasy, uncomfortable, somber, disturbing, melancholy, intense, striking, opulent, vibrant, blissful, mellow, muted, subdued, atmospheric, playful, energetic.

Pause the video while you work on this task.

Remember to use some of these keywords.

Let's have a look at some examples.

Andeep says, "I added short annotations to help my audience understand my journey more easily.

It was really helpful to clarify my thoughts." To summarize, arranging the artwork in a logical sequence guides the viewer through your narrative.

Providing context for each piece, such as titles, dates, et cetera, helps viewers understand your intention.

Paying attention to the visual layout ensures that you create an engaging and harmonious presentation.

Consideration of visual flow, contrast, and thematic progression ensures a clear and cohesive narrative.

Thank you so much for listening and paying attention in this lesson.

I hope you fun and learned something new along the way.

See you next time.