Visual thinking in art refers to utilizing a distinct cognitive pattern that involves processing and communicating ideas through visual means, which is fundamental to both creating and understanding artistic expressions.
Based on the definition provided, visual thinking is a distinct thought pattern that influences how individuals perceive, process, and communicate ideas. It's important to note that it is more than just a preference for pictures over words. Individuals who are visual thinkers often excel in spatial reasoning and rely heavily on mental imagery to grasp complex concepts.
Visual Thinking in the Artistic Context
When applied to the realm of art, visual thinking becomes the core mechanism through which artists conceive, develop, and execute their work, and how viewers interpret and connect with it.
For the Artist
- Conceptualization: Artists often form initial ideas and concepts as mental images or spatial arrangements before translating them into a physical medium. This relies heavily on the visual thinking process of using mental imagery to understand complex concepts.
- Problem Solving: Visual thinkers in art can mentally manipulate shapes, colors, and forms, allowing them to solve compositional challenges or explore different creative directions spatially before making actual marks or changes. Their spatial reasoning excellence comes into play here.
- Communication: Art itself is a form of visual communication. Artists use visual language (lines, shapes, colors, textures, composition) to convey emotions, narratives, or ideas, directly engaging the viewer's visual processing.
For the Viewer
- Perception: Viewers use visual thinking to perceive and process the artwork. They take in the visual information – the forms, the details, the overall composition – influencing how they understand what they see.
- Interpretation: Understanding abstract or complex concepts within art often requires the viewer to rely on mental imagery and spatial understanding to connect with the artist's intended message or derive their own meaning.
- Engagement: The power of visual thinking allows art to evoke strong emotions and lasting impressions, as the visual information is processed and integrated into the viewer's cognitive framework.
In essence, visual thinking in art is the application of this fundamental cognitive pattern – with its emphasis on spatial reasoning and mental imagery – to the creation, perception, and communication inherent in the artistic process. It allows for a deeper, often non-linear, engagement with both the making and the experiencing of art.
