Create an Artwork Based on a Chosen Emotion

Use AI to generate visual inspiration for artworks based on strong emotions.

Teaching Context:
Suitable for Year 4 to Year 8 Visual Arts classes exploring emotion and colour theory.

Basic AI Prompt:
Show me pictures that represent the emotion of anger using colour and shape.

Enhanced AI Prompt:
You are a young artist designing an artwork based on an emotion. Choose an emotion like anger, joy or sadness. Describe the colours, lines and shapes you might use to show this feeling. Ask the AI to generate a visual inspiration board or describe a scene.

Spice it Up (Optional Extension):
Ask the AI to suggest a title and artist statement for the piece.

Lesson Implementation:
Introduce a short slideshow of famous artworks that depict emotion. Discuss how artists use colour and form to communicate feelings. Students pick an emotion and use the AI prompt to explore visual ideas. Using the generated inspiration, they sketch and then complete a final artwork using pastels, paint or collage.

Provide an artist statement scaffold with sentence starters like “I chose red because…” or “This shape shows…”. Display works in a classroom gallery. Tools like Canva or Adobe Express can support digital versions. This task helps students connect personal expression with the design process.

Got ideas on different ways to use this prompt? Share them with the class in the comments below!

Also, if you liked this, you'll love the thousands of subject-specific prompts in our books section!