Talking Pictures for Children 

Talking Pictures is an online resource for children and their adults based on artwork from the Crawford Art Gallery Collection. We will share creative prompts for happy talk and play every Wednesday.

You can download an Irish language version of this page in PDF format here.

About the artwork

When Edith Somerville made these sketches 130 years ago; pretty hats were the fashion for women, but men wore tall top hats to look more serious and important!

Edith liked to draw, paint and write stories. She often made character sketches and funny illustrations for magazines. 

Let's play

Do you have a hat?
Imagine a magic hat?
If a magic hat landed on your head what would happen?
Would you turn into a….. 
time traveller, a cowboy, a chef, a sailor, a cat, a tiny baby, a builder, a fire fighter, a magician, a rap star.

Let's draw

Imagine a hat that you would never, ever want to take off!
Can you draw your special hat?
Is your hat…
cosy and soft, decorated with flowers, covered with jewels, a special baseball or sport hat, a funny party hat, a holiday hat, a hat that makes you look important or a fashionable hat, a powerful hat!

Under your hat!

Hats can make good hiding places.
What would you like to hide under your hat?
A secret message, a small animal, your favourite toy, a special sandwich?

Put on your thinking hat!

Can you imagine what the characters in this sketch might say to you today?

We would love to hear your stories and artworks inspired by Talking Pictures! Share them with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using the #crawfordartgalleryhomelife.

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