Challenging the Perceptions of Adult Learners in Fine Art

A major barrier to learning for students in the field of fine art is the extent to which their established perceptions can inhibit their ability to transform their understanding. To transform perceptions it is necessary to challenge existing frameworks, but such challenges can have dramatic psychological and social consequences both for the student and the artist/teacher. This paper explores learning in the discipline of fine art and highlights problems for learners and teachers when learners are challenged to explore their socially constructed views on the nature of reality.