Telling Stories in Art
April 13th, 2012
Another fun way to explore language in your art is through telling stories. I was on the Subway a few years back, when I had an idea. I was watching the people in passing Subway cars thinking how each person I saw had their own story, how each person had a dialogue running through their heads. And all these simultaneous stories were just whooshing by each other at fast speeds all day long. I wanted to capture that in art and so the Subway Stories series was born.
In the background, I'd collage subway maps and train station times along with bits of phone book pages. Over that I would paint a subway scene. And then in each figure I would write a bit of their story through the dialogue I imagined was running through their heads.
How do you tell stories through your art?
:::
Art above is Green Line, Park Street, and St. Mary's, all named after Boston T stops.
22 Responses
Great imagery and the lack of colour is so uncharacteristic of the other work I have seen of yours, yet fits the subject matter of a NYC subway so well!
About 20 years ago, I created a visual book of all my grandmother’s unusual sayings: “You look like a dying duck in a thunder storm”, “Hair like wild mint”, and many more.
I’ll have to dig out the book and put the images up on my blog!
Posted by: Wendy Malowany | Apr 13, 2012 at 10:43 am |
Hi Leah, I’ve finally signed up for the Creative Every Day Challenge. I’ve been following it for years and finally did it. I’m participant number 500…that’s gotta be good luck!! I love your blog, you are very inspiring. Hugs xx
Posted by: Dion Dior | Apr 13, 2012 at 1:02 pm |
The Subway Stories are amazing. I love them and hope to see more of them. Have you given any thought to doing a book of them?
Posted by: Joyce | Apr 13, 2012 at 2:05 pm |
I like the images! What a creative way to tell stories through art! I’ve just started art journalling, and am trying to use the pages (a combination of colours, images, and words) to tell a narrative.
Posted by: Hwee | Apr 13, 2012 at 2:57 pm |
Creative and inspirational. I love the flow of the characters and words in the collage. Just very fine, Leah.
Posted by: Leia Cator | Apr 13, 2012 at 3:09 pm |
Such expressive little characters. It is a wonderful idea and monotone speaks volumes:)
xx
Posted by: Sue | Apr 13, 2012 at 4:33 pm |
Leah, I absolutely LOVE this series. Really fantastic!
Posted by: Drawn to Creativity | Apr 14, 2012 at 8:14 am |
These are amazing – I am in awe. Thank you for supporting and encouraging us in our desire to create.
Posted by: Sandy B | Apr 14, 2012 at 8:58 am |
I loved these! They are amazing! <3
Posted by: Thaís Gisele (Sweet-Lemmon) | Apr 14, 2012 at 2:40 pm |
Leah I really love these! Your pieces really do touch me, this collection is just great! I love to tell stories through my ladies and their expressions, or through colours of passion or peace, moods, feelings mix up with the colours and expressions. Thanks Leah for sharing your language collection which I love!
Posted by: Kat | Apr 14, 2012 at 3:54 pm |
This is genius! I love it!
Posted by: M | Apr 14, 2012 at 9:23 pm |
Amazing work. I love the story and the art. I used to ride the subway and wonder about what the other people did for a living or where they were going. Love how you incorporated the words.
Posted by: denni | Apr 14, 2012 at 11:07 pm |
Well done on such a great observation and your interpretation it’s fantastic.
I draw Doodly Birds and although it’s not telling a story each bird I draw comes to life as it appears and I find myself saying things like oh you are a cute one or you are grumpy looking one. I don’t plan my illustrations they just appear at the end of my pen. Im moving into creating scenes with them now to frame.
Lynn
One I Made Earlier Today
Posted by: Lynn Holland – One I Made Earlier Today | Apr 15, 2012 at 4:36 am |
I love these pieces Leah!! I wonder the same thing on the bus sometimes. Seeing people with blank faces and nothing seeming to be going on in them but assume I look the same way as I ruminate on my way home. These are such a beautifully crafted expressions of th0se inner thoughts. x
Posted by: Lorinda @ Everyday Endeavours | Apr 15, 2012 at 1:48 pm |
Words are very important to me, so I absolutely love these pieces. I have an old, faded Bulfinch’s Mythology I want to do something with…you’ve inspired me, Leah!
Posted by: Debra Eve | Apr 15, 2012 at 7:31 pm |
These are truly fantastic creations that say so much ~ thanks, namaste, ^_^
Posted by: Carol | Apr 15, 2012 at 8:28 pm |
Wow, I love this series!
Posted by: Kelly | Apr 16, 2012 at 5:55 am |
These are so cool… love the contrast of the maps and the newspaper.
Posted by: Marjie Kemper | Apr 16, 2012 at 11:34 am |
Love hearing the description of how you create stories through your art.
I am seeing the need to get back to creating every day to notice the stories…thanks for the reminder, Leah!
Posted by: Susan | Apr 16, 2012 at 12:47 pm |
These are just wonderful in their simplicity! Beautiful!
Posted by: Nicole | Apr 17, 2012 at 6:47 pm |
These are magical, Leah.
Posted by: Miranda | Apr 19, 2012 at 7:58 am |
This subway series is wonderful – so clever and intriguing. It inspires further stories and possibilities in the viewers mind too. I love to people watch, connect with others and tell stories so this is wonderful to me.
Hope all is okay with you & that Annabelle is keeping you busy with her joy.
Hugs
Kat Xx
Posted by: Katina Wright | Apr 20, 2012 at 2:36 pm |