Chen Yiming
ABSTRACT
This study examined the relationship between university students’ oil painting competence—including knowledge, technical skills, and attitudes—and their artistic ability and creativity. Conducted at Jilin University, the research explored how varying levels of oil painting competence relate to creativity and imagination, technical craftsmanship, problem-solving and adaptability, as well as observation and interpretation. A theoretical framework was established to explain how technical proficiency contributes to artistic expression. Results showed that students demonstrated high levels of oil painting competence and similarly strong artistic abilities across all assessed dimensions. No significant differences were observed when results were compared by gender or year level. However, significant positive correlations were found between oil painting competence and artistic ability, suggesting that stronger technical foundations are closely linked to enhanced creative performance and expressive capability. Despite these strengths, students reported common challenges, including difficulty mastering advanced techniques, limited experimentation with original ideas, and irregular practice habits. In response to these findings, the study recommends instructional strategies that integrate technical skill development with conceptual and creative exploration to better support students’ artistic growth and improve oil painting education.
Keywords: Oil painting competence, artistic ability, creativity, technical skills, studio learning
https://doi.org/10.57180/jebe9689