Narrative Paintings: A Time that was Unfair

Fifth and sixth grade students in art elective classes used their color-mixing and observational drawing skills to tell a story about a time when something was unfair. 

Students could represent something unfair that happened in their own lives or something that they feel is unfair in our society or the world. Before painting, they created mind-maps defining fairness. 

What does it mean for something to be fair?

Artists looked at Jacob Lawrence's painting "Bus" and discussed how an artist can use their work to tell a story visually through shape, color, and composition.

Students also looked at an etching of the Boston Massacre by Paul Revere. Since students study the American Revolution in fourth and sixth grade, they connected what they already knew about the etching from their history classes. Students also considered artists' motivations for telling stories. 

How can artists use their work to change people's opinions?