Art as Storytelling is a series of guided visual art activities, led by Teaching Artist Ciara Ruddock, to encourage emotional expression and explore internal dialogue. Intended to teach the artist how to make art using a story, situation, or feeling that we may be unable to express with words. Each piece will begin with a grounding body scan, followed by art making, and will end with a series of ways to continue the process – such as adding a writing component, sharing, or simply releasing your work into the world.

In Lesson 1 – deconstructing a painting:  artists will follow along in deconstructing a painting and creating a painting using colors that symbolize how they feel that day. Artists will then cut up the painting and piece it back together. This lesson will end with an optional poetry exercise.

In Lesson 2 – paper collage: artists will create a paper collage, selecting paper in colors that align and design 3-4 symbols to cut out and repeat around the page. This lesson will end with an optional key to describe the meaning of each symbol.

In Lesson 3 – figurative drawing:  artists will select 3 objects from nature that symbolize who they are in some way and draw them. This lesson will end with an optional sketchbook activity to document element of nature.