Painting as an Image Reflection Game

It is known that humankind is a species capable of seeing various images on textured or stained surfaces. This ability, which emerges spontaneously effortless, can be said to be a kind of enjoyable game for human. It is considered that this game of seeing recognizable images on textured or stained surfaces constitutes the basis for the pictorial creative process. The aim of this paper is to conduct a study on the relationship between playing and painting through this consideration of pictorial creative process developing in a game. In the study, which is composed of three parts, firstly the relation between art and play is explained as the whole of the creative actions that the painting is a part of. In line with the views of scientists, it is seen that art is a kind of cognitive play. In the second chapter, it is stated that the pictorial creative process, which is a branch of art, can be defined as an image reflection game. In the third chapter, the subject is exemplified by analyzing the works of well-known artists of the modern world. In conclusion, it is understood that this study traces the human’s pictorial actions in modern world which had started thousands of years ago. In connection with the examples shown in the research, it is determined that the abstract paintings and its effects are related to the image reflection game. It is thought that humankind should play this image reflection game, which had been played for thousands of years, in order to improve their physical and mental abilities, to make sense of their own existence and to be helpful for others