The ancient artist's influences can still be felt in today's craftsmen. For example, the contemporary weaver Sheila Hick's prayer rugs are an assimulation of the textile techniques of ancient Peru, Persia, and India, and the macramed forms of the contemporary Spanish artist, Aurelis Munoz, are suggestive of the woven huts of many primitive cultures. Because of this influence upon the current investigation, the evolvement of weaving and its techniques, as well as the three-dimensional techniques of basketry, in different parts of the world and in different historical periods are reviewed briefly.

The objectives of the creative problem may be stated in two parts. First, the utilization of the self-portrait theme in order to explore a variety of drawing techniques, media combinations, and surface manipulations; and second, the maintenance of a sketchbook-diary which accompanies the study as supportive data. The sketchbook entries include not only pertinent visual material but also verbal commentary. The sketchbook-diary is sequential and denotes the various stages of development as well as the progression of the study.