How do People Create and Appreciate Arts, and How Should Such Processes be Supported?

Abstract

Arts is the enterprise that only humans, among many kinds of animals, conduct. Therefore, studies to understand artistic processes and to support art learning could provide insights about the essential nature of human activities such as creativity, artistic expression, imagination, inspiration, communication with symbols, and flexible learning. This paper reviews psychological studies on artistic processes, such as artistic creation and art appreciation, including art learning, which were mainly published during the past ten years. There is a substantial number of psychological studies stemming from the cognitive approach that focus on the mechanism of artistic creation conducted in Japan. There has especially been an accumulation of studies on the development of ideas and skills, as well as mastery as an artist. Being stimulated by the development of neuroscience research, psychological studies on art appreciation are becoming popular in recent years. On the other hand, although there are various types of art learning programs conducted in schools and museums, the number of psychological studies focusing on art learning and art education is still limited. Future research that closely connects the findings from psychological studies of artistic processes with studies of art programs that aim at fruitful art learning and inspiration is needed.