MODERN ART LESSONS · STUDENT WORKSHEET
Space Cat: A Prop Tells the Story
Make a character-and-prop study featuring a cat with a cardboard spaceship. The character wants to explore an imaginary planet, but the pretend control panel falls off. One possible ending: it draws controls directly on the box. Invent a different kind ending if you prefer.
Character reference shared across ten skill lessons—not a picture of the completed assignment. Study the example for possibilities, then close or cover it. Your work should make different choices.
Story starter and example
The character wants to explore an imaginary planet, but the pretend control panel falls off. One possible ending: it draws controls directly on the box. Invent a different kind ending if you prefer. The troublesome object appears in two states: before the character understands the problem and after a practical change. The object—not a long caption—explains the change.
What to do
- Your finished project is a character-and-prop study featuring a cat with a cardboard spaceship. Read the story seed: The character wants to explore an imaginary planet, but the pretend control panel falls off. One possible ending: it draws controls directly on the box. Invent a different kind ending if you prefer.
- Start with triangular ears, curled tail, and box-shaped rocket. These are helpful shapes, not a tracing template.
- Draw the prop alone with the feature that causes the problem clearly visible.
- Draw the character using it before the problem and after discovering the solution.
- Show contact between hand, paw, wing, or arm and the prop; keep its important feature large enough to read.
- Hide the story sentence and ask a partner what the object is for. Enlarge or clarify the useful part. Compare two arrangements and revise one unclear visual clue after peer feedback.
My project: a character-and-prop study featuring a cat with a cardboard spaceship. My chosen ending is…
Prop close-up: label the part that matters.
BEFORE use… AFTER use…
A partner thought the prop did… I clarified…
Story clue: How will I show that the character the pretend control panel falls off?
Before feedback, I wanted the reader to notice… The reader actually noticed…
Revision: I changed… because…
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