Contemplative Visual Art Making as Spiritual Practice among Individuals in Early and Middle Adulthood: A Phenomenological Inquiry
Rosalie S. Guerrero, Maria Lourdes L. Chavez
Philippine Social Science Journal May 5, 2023 DOI: 10.52006/main.v6i1.643 (opens in new tab) via DOAJ
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractContemplative visual art-making serves as a spiritual practice for adults in early and middle adulthood. Twelve participants aged 31 to 58 were interviewed, revealing 11 themes organized into three substructures: lived experiences in visual art making, forms of contemplative practice in visual art making, and benefits experienced. The findings highlight the value of a contemplative approach to visual art-making as a spiritual practice.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Qualitative study using Giorgi's descriptive phenomenological method Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 12 |
| Population | Individuals in early and middle adulthood aged 31 to 58 |
| Key finding | Contemplative visual art-making as a spiritual practice is experienced through 11 themes across three substructures: lived experiences, forms of contemplative practice, and benefits. |
Abstract
Existing literature shows that visual art-making as a spiritual practice is more common among older adults. This study aimed to examine the experiences of individuals in early and middle adulthood who are into contemplative visual art-making as spiritual practice using Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological method. Twelve participants aged 31 to 58 were interviewed online. Results revealed 11 themes from three substructures constituting the overall structure of contemplative visual art-making as a spiritual practice. The first substructure is the lived experiences in visual art making consisting of four themes; the second is the forms of contemplative practice in visual art making consisting of five themes; and the third is the benefits experienced in contemplative visual art making consisting of two themes. Results underscore the value of a contemplative approach to one's visual art-making as a spiritual practice. Similar studies focusing on males, LGBT+, individuals who are self-taught in visual art making, and members of indigenous communities are recommended for further research.