Savant artists represent a conundrum to our understanding of the natur
e of high level specific talents as well as to the concept of general
intellectual impairment. In the present paper, we are particularly con
cerned with the relationship between general perceptual-motor function
s in relation to drawing aptitude. Drawing is by definition a perceptu
al-motor operation, yet mental handicap tends to be associated with so
me degree of impairment in this area. The following study seeks to iso
late such aspects of performance on general perceptual-motor skills th
at might be associated with drawing ability, and may thus be regarded
as building blocks underlying the manifestation of graphic talent. The
results are discussed in terms of the relationships between graphic t
alent, non-verbal intelligence and visual-motor functions.