I really debated about the title for this commentary. I also debated whether to post it today, since the Open Art Forum question was dealing with this topic. But, since the idea was fresh in the head, I decided to throw it out there.

If you decided, or know, there is a definite connection between art and science then you are perfectly correct. When we say art in this question, we are considering all of the arts. The connection isn’t just with how color is transmitted to the eye, or how sound waves hit your ear drums. It covers all of the known arts. There is such a beautiful connection it never ceases to amaze me.

You may have heard the acronym STEM, or STEAM. They are two different definitions, but closely related. When a teacher is teaching STEM there is a pure science lesson. However, there still could be an art connection in that lesson. When the presentation is STEAM, it is science demonstrated through an art project. The emphasis is on the art to teach the science in other words. A lot of general ed classroom teachers shy away from STEAM because they are afraid of the art component. When the connection is so strong the artwork is a natural segue into the lesson and shouldn’t be worrisome about art quality of performance from the teacher. For one thing, if the information is there and clearly presented, the students don’t really care if their teacher can draw or now. They will take off with it no matter what.

Whenever I think precisely of art and science Leonardo da Vinci naturally comes up in my mind. He was such a true Renaissance Man (which he is commonly known as) he could intertwine the two, art and science, naturally and with ease. He had never heard the acronym STEAM and had no idea what that meant. All you have to do is look at Leonardo’s notebooks and see the art and science clearly demonstrated through his anatomy drawings, his machines and war implements. These were clearly defined and labeled in detail. If you have never seen Leonardo’s notebooks, check it out. They are truly pure genius.

Anytime in an art class you are learning about perspective, color theory, all of the elements and principles you are learning in STEAM. Art is science. Artists have a natural sense for science just by doing as well as learning. Observation with a keen artist’s perspective is science.

So, do know there is a strong connection between the arts and science.