Storytelling through ART!

Dragons, by Elliott - age 6

In Part 2 of our Expanding Drawing Skills series, let's learn how to tell a story with ART!

Story drawings (also called graphic stories) are a fun way to tell a story using pictures without words.  Your stories can be imaginary or funny or about anything at all that is interesting to you. 

To get started, use your sketchbook to explore ideas. When you come up with something that suggests an interesting story, draw your idea in your sketchbook. Then you can complete your final story to share with your family and friends. Here are some ways to do that: 

Candy Dilemma, by London - age 9

Action Drawing!  Tell a story with just one drawing. For example, what is going on in the exciting drawing above?  Could you tell or write a story about what you see in the drawing? (Using action and small details are great ways to help tell your story!)  
TIP: You can also add words such as dialogue and signs in your artwork, such as in this grocery store scene.

Write a book! Draw a series of pictures that tell your story. Staple the pages together to make a book. Then make an interesting cover. Another way is to make a blank book first, then fill the pages with your story art. You can also write your story on several pages and illustrate each page with your drawings.   

Make your own comics! 

Start by using your sketchbook to find an interesting character to use in your comics. Try lots of ideas!

Now you will need to figure out what your chosen character(s) are going to do. Use your sketchbook to experiment with ideas, such as in this sketch of Biff and Spiff building a blanket "castle" in the living room.

TIP: Your comic can tell a simple story, such as planting a seed, which grows into a tree, which a child climbs to discover a bird nest. Or, it can have a "punchline," which is a little joke at the end. Just remember that your story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Remember to try lots of ideas!

Biff and Spiff love music!

To draw your final idea, you will need panels in which to draw each part of your story. You can simply draw the panels* (at least three) or print out these blank comic strip panels. Now all you need to do is draw what happens first, what happens next, and how things finally turn out. 

Bonus! Each time you draw and re-draw your characters, your drawings will improve and you will further develop their unique personalities!

* Of course, you can use more than three panels for a longer story - but often, three panels is all you need!

Click here to download a pdf comic book of Biff and Spiff's crazy adventures!   Notes: Biff and Spiff comic strips were created and drawn by Alicia B. at the age of 12 and published monthly in our home school newsletter, Time for Kids.  Biff and Spiff's adventures are normal ones - like anticipating a dental visit, worrying about school, getting an allowance, surviving an earthquake, taking baths, boredom, and being naughty! 

Here's a Printable Detailed Lesson Guide for this lesson.

Next up, Part 3 of our Expanding Drawing Skills series: Drawing from Life.