Does a Perceptual Factor Exist in Artistic Ability?

Abstract

In a preliminary study of seventy advanced college art students, the investigator found surprisingly high scores on the Bennett-Fry Test of Mechanical Comprehension, and also found a low but statistically significant correlation between this test and grade average in college art courses. Review of the literature reveals that other workers have also found a relationship between tests of mechanical ability and various measures of artistic ability, (2,5,10). If appeared questionable that scores as high as those earned by the art students tested could be attributed solely to mechanical comprehension or ability. Subjective examination of the Bennett-Fry test suggested that another factor was acting, which seems to be similar to the perceptual facility factor described by Norman Meier. Meier includes perceptual facility as one of his six factors making up artistic aptitude and defines it as, . . the relative ease and effectiveness with which the individual responds to and assimilates experience which has potential significance for present or future development in a work of art. (9,p.l51). Other authors mention this relationship between artistic ability and perception, but little objective evidence has been offered to substantiate the theory. Tiebout found that artistically superior children rated higher in measures of completeness and accuracy of observation and recall of observed materials than did artistically inferior children, (11). Grippen's study also indicated more accurate obser vation on the part of artistically talented children. However, objective meas ures designed to reveal the amount of perceptual facility in artistically talented individuals are lacking. The aim of this study is to attempt to find objective evidence concerning the relationship between artistic ability and perceptual facility. Specifically, this study shall attempt to answer the following questions: