Talking Points: Shaun Tan
How can still-lifes help us explore form and colour in painting?
Shaun Tan uses his sketchbooks as a space for exploring ideas. Starting small, he works without pressure, drawing and writing down any idea that comes to mind. From there, he selects the strongest ones and gradually develops them into fully fledged stories, graphic novels, and animations.
Watch the videos below and discuss the questions that follow to build a deeper understanding of Shaun Tan’s work.
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Shaun Tan
Shaun Tan grew up in Perth and works as an artist, writer and film-maker in Melbourne. He is best known for illustrated books that deal with social and historical subjects through dream-like imagery, widely translated throughout the world and enjoyed by readers of all ages. –Shaun Tan
See more of Shaun Tan’s work on his website.
Shaun Tan’s Sketchbook Work
Watch the film below to hear how Shaun approaches his early sketchbook work, and how he then develops this into more finished artwork.
Stop the video at various points so that you can have a discussion with the children to help them think through what Shaun might mean by his various working practices.
The Arrival
Watch the trailer for ‘The Arrival’ by Shaun Tan.
Watch the video above to see the full animation of Shaun Tan’s graphic novel.
Questions to Ask Children
Do you like Shaun Tans work? Why?
How do his drawings make you feel?
What kind of atmosphere did you pick up on in ‘The Arrival?’ How do you think he achieved this?
Do you think that Shaun Tan was successful in capturing the story without any writing or text? Why?
This Talking Points Is Used In...
Pathway: Storytelling through drawing
Additional Pathway: Drawing and Making Inspired by Illustrators
using sketchbooks to make visual notes
Show me what you see
