Narrative Art

What is narrative art? It’s a genre in which the artist is telling a story, typically using figures (such as in David Tanner’s paintings of athletes). Browse the following free articles for inspiration and to go behind the scenes of these representational narrative paintings.

Accelerate your art by studying from the finest artists in the world. Realism Today is the FREE weekly publication for the realism movement — sign up here.

Narrative Art - Realism Today

1. How I Create Narrative Paintings With Athletes and Dancers as Models

From the model’s clothing to the background setting, learn how David Tanner uses various elements to create an engaging narrative painting.
Read: https://realismtoday.com/narrative-painting-art-models/

2. The Narrative Paintings of Steven Assael

Using pencil, ink, charcoal, or crayon on paper, Assael could easily draw any sitter into classicized perfection, but he has more interesting plans.
Read: https://realismtoday.com/narrative-paintings-steven-assael/

3. Narrative Paintings That Reflect The Strange and Dysfunctional

Conor Walton discusses three of his narrative paintings. He says, “All my paintings are attempted answers to the three questions in the title of Gauguin’s famous painting: ‘Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?’”
Read: https://realismtoday.com/narrative-paintings-that-reflect-the-strange-and-dysfunctional/

4. Narrative Art: What Eyes See Aright

“I have a genuine enthusiasm for the awkward, strange, and oddly interesting things I experience in life,” says Kelly Houghton. “In particular, I am drawn to anything and anyone with character. Observing people offers up an endless carnival of inspiration.”
Read: https://realismtoday.com/narrative-art-what-eyes-see-aright/

5. The Burning of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard’s Masterpiece

In this interview, Gabriela Dellosso tells us about her winning painting that captures a moment in the French Revolution.
Read: https://realismtoday.com/contemporary-realism-burning-adelaide-labille-guiards-masterpiece/

6. Figurative Art That Creates a Wordless Dialogue

In this artist spotlight, Andrea Kemp explains how, for her, evolving as an artist brings new meaning to her figurative art, in creating a “wordless dialogue.”
Read: https://realismtoday.com/contemporary-realism-figurative-art-wordless-dialogue/

7. How I Created a Multi-Figure Painting Inspired by Hurricane Katrina

“I believe art has the power to move people and that the most effective, beautiful, and truthful way to do that is through realism.”
Read: https://realismtoday.com/contemporary-realism-multi-figure-painting-hurricane-katrina/

Follow Realism Today on Instagram @realism.today