Show and Tell : Micro Lesson and Sketchbook Project.
An exploration of the relationship between words and pictures in art and illustration.
David Shrigly is a famous artist.
He’s on instagram with a lot of followers.
He’s even been on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, where he said…
The words don’t have anything to do with the pictures, it’s art, not illustration. - David Shrigley
Like all great artist, David says the thing you’re thinking but won’t say out loud, and says it in a way that makes you think, “Hey, I can do that!”, but you never would.
David’s quote on Jimmy Kimmel show is the inspiration for this week’s micro-lesson called …
Helllooo! I’m Adam Ming, recently (at 40), I jumped into my dream job of being a picture book illustrator, and it is a DREAM of a job.
Once a week I send you a FREE letter that has a Micro-lesson, and a Sketchbook project that you can work on for the whole week (10 minutes a day). This is said letter!
I think of it as creative growth without the overwhelm of traditional art class.
It’s gentle parenting for your little artist.
It’s 100% Free. (And there’s an upgrade to get ALL the THINGS)
Micro-lesson: Show and Tell, Combining Words and Pictures.
Words are not just tools of description, and pictures are more than mere visual representations. When they come together, they create a dialogue that can be more powerful than the sum of its parts. Each of these elements plays a role in enhancing audience understanding, emotional engagement, and depth of message.
Whether you are an artist, a storyteller, an educator, or simply someone interested in the mechanics of communication, this lesson will provide insights into how to use words and pictures effectively to create more impactful and resonant narratives.
Here are 3 ways words and pictures can collaborate to create images:
Narrative Clarity: The interplay between words and pictures that offers clear narrative guidance is essential for ensuring audience understanding and engagement. This clarity is key in both artistic and educational contexts, as it ensures that the audience comprehends and connects with the story or message being presented.
Down the Hole, illustrated by Adam Ming Emotional Amplification: The combination of words and images in evoking and intensifying emotions is crucial in visual communication. This synergy can create a more profound emotional response than either element alone, making the experience more impactful and memorable for the audience. Whether it's joy, sadness, humor, or shock, the right mix can deeply resonate with viewers.
Irony and Contrast: The use of words to contradict or play against the images can create irony or surprise, leading to deeper engagement and thought. This contrast can challenge the viewer’s expectations and perceptions, often leading to humor, a deeper understanding of the subject matter, or a reevaluation of preconceived notions. The irony and contrast between text and image can be a powerful tool in conveying complex messages in a nuanced and engaging way.
David Shrigley Look like fun? your turn!
Sketchbook Project: Show and tell.
You’ll need a scissors and some magazines you’re willing to cut up. Or books. Or prints of things from the internet, try doing a week’s worth of this first. You will need some images and some text.
Alternating daily, cut and stick an image or some text into your sketchbook, complement it by either drawing something ‘related to text’ or writing something ‘related to the image’
If you stick a photo, spend 10 minutes writing accompanying text.
Three prompts to get you started, pick one and just write, or write one for all three and pick the best one.
Write about what your mom or kid would say about the image
Describe the image
Write something that has nothing to do about the image
If you stick text spend 10 minutes illustrating the text, or making art inspired by the text.
Putting human characters or hands into images always make them more interesting.
Use icons to make a scene.
Just draw an elephant, it works with any text.
Share your work in this week’s gallery, and comment. Appreciate and discuss each other’s work!
Introduce yourself | Upcoming Drawing workshop | Build a Creative Habit
David Shrigley, the master of irony and contrast!
Love this prompt, Adam! What a wonderful way to play with image + text. Going to try to carve some time later this week to try it out!