Visual Storytelling
A tutorial in making and editing a simple visual story.
Mostly, we communicate using factual storytelling, which is a spoken or written account of events. It is a simple and powerful way to connect with others. It's easier in person because we can see the immediate response and hear other people's stories in return. Storytelling online is a staccato form of communication – the response comes after a silence, which can range from hours to years. Consequently, storytelling online requires patience and the commitment to communicate consistently without an immediate response. It works best in bite-sized pieces which allow other people to follow developments in real time, so they see what is current.
Visually telling the story of our day or of how we made something, in chronological order, is an even more effective way of communicating. To be successful it requires a degree of transparency – our settings and habits are exposed. For most people, this is fine when used with caution. For me, due to persistent experiences of being stalked and having my art targeted by criminals involved in art fraud, this is no longer an appropriate approach. Instead, I am embracing a fashion editorial style of storytelling using skills learned from professionals I worked with during my brief time as a fashion model, before I prioritised art. While stylised, it is still an accurate reflection of who I am and what I do.
However, if you do not face similar obstacles, then telling the story of your day – including showing your work in progress – is less complicated to make. You don't have to reveal everything about yourself, it's about letting other people get to know you through your actions and voice. Watching someone tell an ongoing story of their work online helps us discern if they are real and if their claims are backed up by actions. It is an indicator of what it would be like to have further dealings with this person.
The most significant problem emerging in storytelling online is lack of editing skills. By necessity, we are all becoming faster at absorbing information – especially visual information – yet not as skilled at condensing information.
This column is a tutorial on how to simplify visual storytelling while preserving the essence. If you have any questions or would like to add your observations, please write them in the comments section.