Write a Painting-Inspired Story

What You Need:

• Pencil
• Paper

What You Do:

1. Before you begin, go online and research Edward Hopper’s life and works. If you have a museum nearby with Hopper paintings, this is a great opportunity to take your child on an art excursion and get some real-life inspiration!
2. Have your child pick one painting to write about, and study it. Ask him to imagine what the subject might be thinking, what his occupation is, where he has been, and where he may be going.
3. Challenge your child to sit down with a pencil and paper, and write for 10 minutes straight without taking his pencil off the paper! Ask him to write the first ideas that come mind about the people in the painting. He should try to describe the scene using all of his senses. What does he hear? See? Smell?
4. After the 10 minutes are up, have your child read his creative writing piece to you. Point out your favorite parts of his work!

If your child is excited about this writing exercise, encourage him to expand his piece into a full-length story! He can edit the work and expand it as he sees fit. This is a wonderful opportunity for him to learn more about a famous artist while thinking creatively about the writing process.