title: Segmentation and accuracy in copying and drawing: experts and beginners.
abstract: As part of an ongoing investigation into real-world copying and drawing, I recorded the eye-hand drawing strategies of 16 subjects with drawing experiences ranging from expert to novice while they copied a line drawing of a standing nude. The experts produced accurate copies whereas all the beginners produced marked inaccuracies of overall scaling, proportion and shape. Analysis of eye and hand movements showed that the experts alone segmented the original drawing into simple line sections that were copied one at a time using a direct eye-hand strategy not requiring intermediary encoding to visual memory. The results suggest that segmentation into simple lines defines the task-specific process of accurate copying, and that this process is restricted to experts, i.e. acquired through training and practice. Additional preliminary tests also suggest that a similar process may apply to drawing a model from life.
authors.affiliation: Camberwell College of Arts, University of the Arts London, 30 Therapia Road, London SE22 0SE, United Kingdom. john@tchalenko.com
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tchalenko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001154:Art; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D018594:Human Body; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011361:Professional Competence; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult