Citation

Bowker JE, Sawyers JK. Early Child Res. Q. 1988; 3(1): 107-115.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0885-2006(88)90032-4

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Two studies investigated (a) the art preference of young children for realistic, stylized, and abstract styles; and (b) the influence that exposure to art has on these style preferences. In the first study, 41 preschool children (19 females, 22 males) were individually administered an art style preference task comprised of nine prints, three of each style, of well known paintings. Both color and subject matter variables were controlled. A rank ordering of responses indicated a preference for abstract over realistic and stylized paintings. A second group of preschoolers (22 females, 20 males) were administered the preference task both before and following exposure to a painting ranked as one of the least preferred in the previous study. The three treatments were (a) classroom exposure, (b) home exposure, or (c) exposure through classroom discussion about the painting and the artist. Analyses revealed that all three types of exposure increased preference for the selected painting as well as preference for other paintings in that style. The importance of providing opportunities for young children to experience art is discussed in relation to capabilities of young children, as indicated by the results of the two studies.