Lines Drawn: The Impact of Prior Knowledge on Visual Arts Students' Drawing Ability at the Post-Secondary Level

Abstract: This study served two main objectives: to inform the curriculum design of the institution's drawing courses, and give direction to the recruitment initiatives of the institution's visual arts program. It examined the extent to which prior knowledge correlated to visual art students' drawing ability at the post-secondary level. Prior knowledge was defined as the number of years of visual arts study at both the secondary and post-secondary levels, along with the amount of self-directed practice and time drawing. Drawing ability was defined as the ability to accurately draw what is visually seen (to draw representational).