How many different animals can you count in this painting?

Colourful birds, fish, reptiles and imagined creatures march along with their beaks and snouts twisting and turning into musical instruments and funnels. Can you see bubbles coming out of some of them? The painting makes it look like we are glimpsing part of a parade. What other bird or animal could the red feathers on the left belong to? Are there smaller creatures marching at the feet of the birds?

Imagine the sound of this painting. What type of music are they playing?

Do you like to read? What type of stories are your favourite?

Katherine Hattam was inspired to paint this artwork after reading books that explore how history can be told in different ways. Fictional stories usually describe imaginary people and events. But some authors like to write fictional stories using characters from real historical events. Katherine’s painting is filled with Australian animals and plants from the stories she read. How many can you recognise?

What other objects can you spot? Why do you think she has included them?

What sporting activities do you like to do?

Alan Jones has created a painting of the oval in Cherrybrook where he used to play football as a child. The way he depicts the huge expanse of grass and the buildings in the distance help us to imagine how he might have felt stepping out onto the large playing field as a child. Two textured, stripy heads are suspended above the oval. Who do think they could be?

What do you think they could be saying to each other?

Do you like making up stories?

Noel McKenna has written and illustrated a story book about these two cats. Audrey is the one in the corner, and Decimus is near the lamp. This painting shows them in the house they share with the two brothers that own them. The room is sparsely furnished, but the different objects and books give us clues about the brothers’ interests. Can you read any of the book titles on the shelf?

Who could live in the little model house? Can you invent a story about them?

Look at all the patterns and details in this painting.

Marikit Santiago has painted her three children within a triangle shape inspired by religious paintings and stories from the Bible. Maella and Santiago look like they are sitting on coiled snakes, while their little sister Sarita appears to float above them. All three children have a halo-like glow around their heads. Marikit likes to explore her feelings about her upbringing and her role as a mother in her art. She even lets her children draw on her paintings.

Can you spot all the drawings done by Marikit’s children?