HOME ENVIRONMENT AND CREATIVE AND ARTISTIC ACTIVITY by WILLIAM ALAN BARSH Under the direction of Melody Milbrandt ABSTRACT This study sought to delve into and analyze the home environment and its relation to creative and artistic activity. Three artistically exceptional third grade art students, their parents, and their previous year teacher were interviewed to collect data relating to students and their home environments. Factors related to a student’s home environment such as the origins of their artistic inspirations, environment in which they made art at home, materials available to them, and the cultural values and beliefs transmitted to them in their homes were looked at to see how they influenced a child’s artistic activity. Data was collected through interviews and teacher observations and combined with a review of literature to compile strategies that might be useful for parents to use to influence their children's artistic activity. INDEX WORDS: Home environment, Creativity, Artistic activity, Families, Artistic influence, Parents, Children