3D Living Pictures
What are 3D Living Pictures?
Works of art, book illustrations and photographs can provide powerful inspiration for drama activities. Images can easily be brought to life through freeze frames, thought tracking and improvisation to create a 3D Living Picture.
Choose an image that depicts a range of characters. The picture should be big enough to be seen by the whole group – ideally projected on to the wall – or a large poster displayed where everyone can talk about it together.
What are 3D Living Pictures?
Works of art, book illustrations and photographs can provide powerful inspiration for drama activities. Images can easily be brought to life through freeze frames, thought tracking and improvisation to create a 3D Living Picture.
Choose an image that depicts a range of characters. The picture should be big enough to be seen by the whole group – ideally projected on to the wall – or a large poster displayed where everyone can talk about it together.
Market Scene, Northern Town (1939) by L.S.Lowry
Lowry is recognised for his portrayals of busy urban landscapes in the north of England filled with ‘matchstick men’. Pendlebury Market in Salford was near to Lowry’s home.
Mimi’s Colorful World (2022) by Shiila Lippold
Written by by Ulrike Haas and Nicola Boyne. Illustrated by Shiila Lippold. Pub. ulila Verlag. Diversity and inlcusion in a hidden object book.
Scene de Patinage by Pieter Breughel the Younger (1613)
“Scene with ice skating” by the Flemish painter from Brussels.
The Day The Crayons Quit by Oliver Jeffers
By Drew Daywalt (Author), Oliver Jeffers (Illustrator). Published by Harper Collins Children’s Books (2014)
Black Belt by Archibal Motley (1934)
Black Belt is Motley’s first painting in his signature series about Chicago’s historically black Bronzeville neighborhood. Motley sought social change through works that he hoped would speak across racial divides.
Children’s Games by Pieter Bruegel (1560)
Children’s Games is an oil-on-panel by Flemish Renaissance artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder, painted in 1560 (Location: Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna). At least 80 games have been identified.
Work by Ford Madox Brown (1852-1865)
This lively street scene in Hampstead, London shows a group of navvies (road-diggers) and a range of social classes including homeless and unemployed people, a chickweed-seller, an MP and political protestors.
Here We Are by Oliver Jeffers
“An optimistic snapshot of contemporary life, this heartfelt hug of a book ought to become a classic” The Guardian. Published by Harper Collins Children’s Books 2017
The Snail and the Whale (2006) by by Axel Scheffler
Illustration from the book by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Pub. Puffin Books.
Crowd#9 (Sunset 5) 2013
From the series Face in the Crowd by Los Angeles photographer and filmmaker Alex Prager (b. 1979). Her work consists of photographs and films whose common denominator is a meticulously crafted mise-en-scène.
The Seven Silly Eaters (2000)
Illustration by Betty Fraser from the book by Mary Ann Hoberman. Pub. Clarion Books.
Luncheon of the Boating Party by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1880-81)
Le Déjeuner des Canotiers (1881). It is now in The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.
Display the picture, highlighting issues you want to discuss such as relationships between characters and the possible location. Explain that the group is going to bring the picture to life by making a three-dimensional tableau. Invite everyone to look carefully at the picture and to place themselves in the space as a character or object. As they enter they should say who they are and make a freeze frame of their character or object as accurately as possible.
When everyone has taken their place, move onto thought tracking. Walk amongst the players, tapping them on the shoulder one by one to hear their thoughts. When you have heard them all, use Action Clip to bring the picture to life when you clap your hands.
If there are lots of players, use spotlighting instead, to find out what’s happening in different parts of the tableau. As you walk around the group, invite smaller groups of characters to come to life and be heard. As you move away, they should freeze back into a tableau.
Examples of Artists
Hieronymus Bosch
Pieter Brueghel the Elder
Leonora Carrington
William Hogarth
Frida Kahlo
L. S. Lowry
Ford Madox-Brown
Rembrandt
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Diego Rivera
Jan Steen
Adolphe Valette
Photographers
Cartier-Bresson
Alex Prager
Illustrators
Martin Handford (Where’s Wally?)
Have a look at these great pictures!
David’s Collection (Padlet)
Also see:
Freeze Frames
Guide to Freeze Frames
3D Living Pictures
What are 3D Living Pictures?
Works of art, book illustrations and photographs can provide powerful inspiration for drama activities. Images can easily be brought to life through freeze frames, thought tracking and improvisation to create a 3D Living Picture.
Choose an image that depicts a range of characters. The picture should be big enough to be seen by the whole group – ideally projected on to the wall – or a large poster displayed where everyone can talk about it together.
What are 3D Living Pictures?
Works of art, book illustrations and photographs can provide powerful inspiration for drama activities. Images can easily be brought to life through freeze frames, thought tracking and improvisation to create a 3D Living Picture.
Choose an image that depicts a range of characters. The picture should be big enough to be seen by the whole group – ideally projected on to the wall – or a large poster displayed where everyone can talk about it together.
Market Scene, Northern Town (1939) by L.S.Lowry
Lowry is recognised for his portrayals of busy urban landscapes in the north of England filled with ‘matchstick men’. Pendlebury Market in Salford was near to Lowry’s home.
Mimi’s Colorful World (2022) by Shiila Lippold
Written by by Ulrike Haas and Nicola Boyne. Illustrated by Shiila Lippold. Pub. ulila Verlag. Diversity and inlcusion in a hidden object book.
Scene de Patinage by Pieter Breughel the Younger (1613)
“Scene with ice skating” by the Flemish painter from Brussels.
The Day The Crayons Quit by Oliver Jeffers
By Drew Daywalt (Author), Oliver Jeffers (Illustrator). Published by Harper Collins Children’s Books (2014)
Black Belt by Archibal Motley (1934)
Black Belt is Motley’s first painting in his signature series about Chicago’s historically black Bronzeville neighborhood. Motley sought social change through works that he hoped would speak across racial divides.
Children’s Games by Pieter Bruegel (1560)
Children’s Games is an oil-on-panel by Flemish Renaissance artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder, painted in 1560 (Location: Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna). At least 80 games have been identified.
Work by Ford Madox Brown (1852-1865)
This lively street scene in Hampstead, London shows a group of navvies (road-diggers) and a range of social classes including homeless and unemployed people, a chickweed-seller, an MP and political protestors.
Here We Are by Oliver Jeffers
“An optimistic snapshot of contemporary life, this heartfelt hug of a book ought to become a classic” The Guardian. Published by Harper Collins Children’s Books 2017
The Snail and the Whale (2006) by by Axel Scheffler
Illustration from the book by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Pub. Puffin Books.
Crowd#9 (Sunset 5) 2013
From the series Face in the Crowd by Los Angeles photographer and filmmaker Alex Prager (b. 1979). Her work consists of photographs and films whose common denominator is a meticulously crafted mise-en-scène.
The Seven Silly Eaters (2000)
Illustration by Betty Fraser from the book by Mary Ann Hoberman. Pub. Clarion Books.
Luncheon of the Boating Party by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1880-81)
Le Déjeuner des Canotiers (1881). It is now in The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.
Display the picture, highlighting issues you want to discuss such as relationships between characters and the possible location. Explain that the group is going to bring the picture to life by making a three-dimensional tableau. Invite everyone to look carefully at the picture and to place themselves in the space as a character or object. As they enter they should say who they are and make a freeze frame of their character or object as accurately as possible.
When everyone has taken their place, move onto thought tracking. Walk amongst the players, tapping them on the shoulder one by one to hear their thoughts. When you have heard them all, use Action Clip to bring the picture to life when you clap your hands.
If there are lots of players, use spotlighting instead, to find out what’s happening in different parts of the tableau. As you walk around the group, invite smaller groups of characters to come to life and be heard. As you move away, they should freeze back into a tableau.
Examples of Artists
Hieronymus Bosch
Pieter Brueghel the Elder
Leonora Carrington
William Hogarth
Frida Kahlo
L. S. Lowry
Ford Madox-Brown
Rembrandt
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Diego Rivera
Jan Steen
Adolphe Valette
Photographers
Cartier-Bresson
Alex Prager
Illustrators
Martin Handford (Where’s Wally?)
Have a look at these great pictures!
David’s Collection (Padlet)
Also see:
Freeze Frames
Guide to Freeze Frames
3D Living Pictures
Action Clip
Conscience Alley
Cross-Cutting
Developing Freeze Frames
Drama For Writing
Flashbacks and Flash Forwards
Forum Theatre
Freeze Frames
Hot Seating
Hot Spotting
Image Theatre
Mantle of the Expert
Marking the Moment
Role on the Wall
Storytelling
Teacher in Role
Thought Tracking
Where Do You Stand?
Whoosh! Bringing Stories Alive through Drama
3D Living Pictures
Action Clip
Conscience Alley
Cross-Cutting
Developing Freeze Frames
Drama For Writing
Flashbacks and Flash Forwards
Forum Theatre
Freeze Frames
Hot Seating
Hot Spotting
Image Theatre
Mantle of the Expert
Marking the Moment
Role on the Wall
Storytelling
Teacher in Role
Thought Tracking
Where Do You Stand?
