INFLUENTIAL FACTORS IN ARTISTS LIVES AND THEMES IN THEIR ARTWORK

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relations among influ ential factors in artists' lives, the process of creativity, and theme s in the resulting artwork. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. In Phase I of the research, 6 contemporary artists identifi ed themes, influences, feelings, thoughts, and representations about 5 pieces of their own art. They also completed a 50-item survey about i nfluential factors. Two judges also were asked to identify themes, inf luences, feelings, thoughts, and representations in Phase 2 of the res earch. The judges relied on 30 slides depicting the work of the 6 arti sts. The same 50-item survey concerning influential factors was comple ted by each of the judges while examining the slides a 2nd time. Hypot hesis 1, which predicted that artists would articulate the events, exp eriences, and memories that have influenced their lives, was supported . Hypothesis 2, which predicted that artists would be aware of the rel ations between influential factors in their lives and specific themes, images, expressions, and representations in their paintings, also was supported. Hypothesis 3, which predicted that potentially influential factors would be communicated in the themes, images, expressions, and representations in artists' paintings, and that objective viewers can identify them, was supported partially. The judges responded similarl y to at least 2 of the 5 pieces of art for each participant. Hypothesi s 4, which predicted that influential themes would be similar across a ll participants' paintings, also was supported partially. One hundred percent agreement was found for the strongest influences (e.g., loss a nd culture) when the men and the women were evaluated separately.