Objects of material culture have meaning. American flags, worktables, bulletin boards, interactive whiteboards, and large white-faced clocks signify "classroom" while color wheels, cupboards, cabinets, sinks, drawing supplies, and that particular scent that lingers after years of exposure to painting materials even more specifically…

Examines the way first-year public high school students drew the human figure from life, photographs, and copies of master drawings. Finds that the three referents were not significantly different in supplying information to learn specified art elements. Maintains that drawing from life needs to be reexamined. (KM)