Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature and Related Study

This section discussed a detailed discussion of the review of related literature and

studies on the exposure to different art references to senior high school students’ artistic

ability. Majority of the senior high school students, mainly the Grade 12 Arts and Design

students are observed to be using references in creating artworks to ignite the inspiration and

motivation to create art. The purpose of reference differs across artists and between pieces of

art; it is typically included into the artist's process in an ad hoc manner (Holinaty, et al.,

2021). Thus, in this section the researchers will explore the relationship between the exposure

to art references and the artistic ability of senior high school students.

Art References as an inspiration to create art

Art referencing is visual references to a certain work of art or artist. Rather than

directly sampling a pre-existing work, as with appropriation, these works change or distort

their citations, which are typically drawn from Western canon icons (Artsy, n.d.).

Correspondingly, references are utilized to enhance artwork, and you may learn a lot and

advance your visual library by utilizing references (Nevermore, 2020). Moreover, any

reference is filtered through the lens of your experience, taste, and perception. You are free to

alter any part of it without infringing on the rights of any other person depicted in it

(FantasyRoom, n.d.). According to Okada & Ishibashi (2016), they found that participants

were able to create imaginative drawings that were qualitatively distinct from the model

drawings by replicating or referencing unfamiliar abstract designs. Furthermore, being

individual’s improvement and inspiration in terms of creativity. According to Vann (2017),

12 out of 14 students got inspired to create a self portrait artwork because they were familiar

with the contemporary artists and their works.

Inspiration to create art is everywhere. This implies that they engage with the natural

world through a variety of senses (taste, smell, touch, hearing, and sight), incorporating their

observations into their artistic creations (The Huntington, n.d.) .Additionally, inspiration

takes a huge role in an artist’s artistic ability. However, Finding inspiration is simple and

natural for some people, while it may be difficult for others (Fisher, 2022). Hence, the term

“artist block” or “art block” exists. Artists frequently struggle with inspiration, motivation,

and creativity when they have an art block. Although it might be discouraging and irritating,

there are strategies to get over it (Wassell, 2023). According to Christensen (2019), copying

or referencing existing artworks is one of the strategies to overcome “art block” or “artist

block”. On the contrary, inspiration can also be taken as an imitation. Although there's a

distinction to be made between being inspired by an ancestor's work and just imitating it

(Hunter, 2023).

Inspiration honors, expands upon, and moves autonomously in new ways, generating

new concepts and deepening the conversation in the process while imitation, on the other

hand, just takes the easiest route possible, mimicking previously spoken information and

sluggishly repeating previously observed content (Cvetkovski, 2023). However, if you take

little fragments from several sources and rework and blend them in novel ways, you've
produced something fresh and unique—art (Might Could Studios, n.d.). Nevertheless, artists

use reference 99% of the time, art that is not objective can be the exception. A small piece of

bark with an intriguing color, texture, or pattern would suffice. It may be a cloth swatch. It

can be an on-location watercolor or drawing that was carried back to the studio. It may be an

advertisement, a character from an anime, or the creation of another artist (Hudson, 2023).

Additionally, most artists, especially illustrators, benefit greatly from reference photos and

study (Chapman, 2023).

According to the University of Rochester (n.d.), an individual is urged to create a

project design and then seek for reference photos that will assist you create the painting. In

addition, looking at the works of many artists should inspire you to create something of your

own (Bitesize, n.d.). Hence, these studies indicate that art references are a source of

inspiration for artists, which aid in the creative process of producing artworks, especially to

those who are facing difficulties in being creative.

Artistic ability and creativity

According to Tzachrista et al. (2023), creativity is a cognitively complicated process

that results in the creation of creative and valuable ideas, solutions, and products.

Additionally, creativity is one of the most valuable qualities we have as we navigate the fast

changing environment of the twenty-first century (Ritter, et al., 2014). Moreover, creativity is

a necessary component of human existence because it allows people to express themselves

and explore new ideas through a variety of cognitive processes such as imagination, problem-
solving, and divergent thinking. Psychologists have long been interested in understanding the

nature of creativity and the elements that contribute to its development (Lumen Learning,

n.d.). According to Sternberg (2019), creativity is a cognitive process that involves the

production of novel and useful ideas. The authors argue that artistic ability is one of many

expressions of creativity and that it necessitates a wide range of cognitive abilities, including

imagination, adaptability, and problem-solving ability.

According to Hargreaves & McPherson (2018), artistic ability is the ability to develop

and express oneself through the creation of art. It necessitates not only technical ability but

also the ability to convey emotion, meaning, and aesthetic value through artistic expression.

According to Ericsson et al. (2018), artistic ability is defined as the ability to produce creative

products that are original, effective, and aesthetically pleasing which the the authors argue

that this capacity is not simply a matter of technical skill, but also requires a deep

understanding of the aesthetic principles that govern art. It is the ability to create aesthetically

valuable products or performances. Correspondingly, the authors believe that this ability

involves more than just technical expertise, but also a thorough comprehension of the

aesthetic principles that govern art (Gilhooly, K.J., 2021). Thus, the relationship between

creativity and the use of art references is complicated and varied, involving a variety of

aspects such as cognitive processes, skill development, and individual differences (Acomi, et

al., 2023).

The relationship between art references and artistic ability is a topic of great interest

and controversy among art and psychology scholars and practitioners. Some claim that using
art references can restrict creativity, resulting in derivative or imitative work without

originality. Others argue that art references can act as a catalyst for creativity, providing a

jumping-off point for artists to explore and develop in their own unique ways. (Pelowski, et

al., 2017) Using art references can have a variety of cognitive effects on the creative process.

Artists must engage in sophisticated cognitive processes such as visual perception, memory

retrieval, and mental imaging when working with art references. These procedures are critical

in translating visual information from reference material to the artist's own interpretation and

expression with both professional and amateur artists alike seek inspiration from the works of

others in order to improve their own creativity (Ishiguro & Okada, 2020)

Originality in art

Originality, defined in the dictionary, is the characteristic of something to be special,

unique, and not the same as anything or anyone else (Cambridge dictionary, 2023).

According to Merriam Webster's dictionary (2023), originality is associated with fresh

aspects, design, or a fresh style. Moreover, originality is described as constructive

imagination or the power of independent thought. Constructive imagination, in particular,

occurs in instances when a hypothesis is developed through different pieces of information or

over various issues of meaning (Leeuwen, 2018). Expanding on constructive imagination, it

is what generates representations of possibilities and actions while giving the option of

choosing what to do with those pieces of information (TeachTaughtStuff, 2018).

Furthermore, originality is a common word that is associated with the arts. There are

converging ideas on the concept of originality, and the way the concept is actualized can vary
in different divisions or occasions (Cruz, et al., 2022). A study by Augustin et al. (2012)

reveals that words donating originality, along with beautiful and wonderful, are terms that

have equal likelihood of aesthetic usage to describe works in all art forms.

Borowiecki & Mauri (2023) conducted a study which shows that it is a goal for artists

and various creative workers to achieve success and influence by producing original works.

Additionally, the early study shows that composers with original outputs tend to be more

influential as well as successful with present day audiences. Part of the study presents a

correlation between originality and influence over a lifetime of a creator. It then states that

the relationship between the two variables is positive and higher than 50%. Hence, there is a

significant relationship between originality and influence. A Regression analysis revealed

that the impact of originality on popularity follows a direct linear pattern, as well as, being

partially influenced by the time of initial publication of a work (Form, 2018).

In the present world, artists have various means of access to material that is not their

own, both physically and digitally. For example, the internet allows access to a wide variety

of images and references online. A study by Gorichanaz (2019) explains how artists build

understanding with information when creating works of art. The study expounded on the

artists’ information behavior. Furthermore, on how traditional and novel forms of information

help the self and the artistic process. There is constant back and forth with originality and

replication when it comes to the arts. Most of the time it is the two concepts against each

other, not often are they viewed as both essential and meaningful in the practice of art

(Fairman, 2022).
 However, referencing material by other people can create room for new possibilities

in individual expression and experimentation (Jerkku, 2020). In the art industry the notion of

Originality is occasionally implicated as a capability and is associated with creativity.

Additionally, creativity can be defined as a combination of existing mental elements or

something that has already existed before. The results point to analogies, and in its extremes,

what is viewed as creative or original may not be entirely original but instead something that

is based on what was already existing. (Pritzker & Runco, n.d). Similarly, Acar (2017)

explains that originality is the strongest correlation of both creativity and innovation.

Therefore, what is original in a piece would be the use of integration and the presence of

innovation that would influence creativity, which would produce a sort of originality within a

work of art.