Abstract:
This qualitative investigation examined the nature of 7 highly artistic visual arts
students at 2 secondary schools in southcentral Ontario. Through interviews,
questionnaires, observations, and artwork documents, this study attempted to understand
these highly artistic students in terms of creativity, motivation, social and emotional
perspectives, and cognitive processes. Data collection occuned over a 3-monlh period.
and the data analysis program NVivo 7 was used for coding to develop themes and
categories for organizing data.
The findings of this study illustrate the significant place that \ isual arts can lake in
the growth and development for the youth of today. Participants idcniificd dcxclopnig
critical thinking and problem-solving skills, taking risks, and meeting challenges ilirouuh
their engagement in the creative process. The transferability of these skills \\ as
referenced to numerous aspects of their lives. By enhancing individual perspectives
through the study of visual arts, their local and world connections were extended, and
environmental and societal concerns evolved. In addition, the communicative
opportunities that visual arts provided for these students in terms of personal expression
provided emotional health and paths of personal discovery.
Through the participants' production of artwork with the many stages this
involves, combined with insight into their needs, the participants relayed miportant
suggestions for programming enhancements and educational settmgs lor \ isiial arts
classrooms. These suggestions are meaningful for educators and curriculum developers
of the future.
