Introduction
How to Use This Book

Get ready to daydream, play and tap into the power of your imagination.

Throughout this book, I will lead you through step-by-step projects that illustrate some of the main tenets of storytelling for artists. I hope you will learn new mindsets, techniques and mediums while creating beautiful artwork. Ultimately, I hope you will use the projects in this book as a jumping-off point for your own stories.

Everyone has a unique voice, and no two lives are the same. My style is whimsical, and my stories usually end with “happily ever after.” Yours may be edgier and favor a darker palette. It doesn’t matter. This book is designed to share strategies for storytelling that are relevant for any style and any type of art, whether you’re a painter, fiber artist, avid doodler or sculptor.

You might open this book and immediately be drawn to a particular chapter. You love collage and can’t wait to jump into Chapter 4: Setting the Scene, or you’re intrigued by “dirty romanticism” and want to start with Chapter 5: Mark-Making for Mood. Maybe you have a beautiful painting sitting in a drawer, still untitled; you might find yourself racing to the afterword, Title: Your Secret Weapon. If you feel pulled toward any of the chapters, then, by all means, get started! This book doesn’t have to be read in order, and it can serve as a handy go-to reference for building storytelling into your current projects.

Of course, you can also move through the book from beginning to end, and I have organized the chapters to build on one another: warming up with color, adding character, moving through setting, developing theme and, finally, ending with tips on titling your work.

As storytelling requires you to imagine the stories you will paint, I’ve included sections on inspiration and reference for every chapter. These exercises will help you mine the richness of your inner life so it can be translated into visual art.

No matter how you move through the book, there are some things you can do to feed your storytelling muse. Keep a sketchbook for your characters or pin them to a wall; you never know when they may be called to adventure. Save pictures of inspiring places for settings, and consider keeping a written journal to track your stories as they unfold.

Remember that storytelling is a process. If, at first, you can’t draw a person or a tree, please don’t be discouraged. You’ve simply uncovered a skill you can develop. Keep practicing and concentrate on your strengths. Make mistakes. Make things up. Soon you will start to feel like a child again—a child who likes to play games of make-believe—and this is exactly the mindset you need to begin painting stories.