Rationales and programs for perceptual training should proceed from an in vestigation of the retinal and cognitive activities involved in perceptual processes; however, theory in these areas is rarely applied to art education. This paper proposes a cognitive model for the specific and detailed processes of apprehension, analysis, reflection, and production that occurduring the perception of a three-dimensional object or array I the real world and its translation into drawing or painting. Perception Involves the apprehension of optical properties and visual patterns; the application of local and global computational factors I the creation of form perception and figurai synthesis; followed by a formation of constructs about viewpoint and variants. Translation involves cognitive strategies, both perceptual and production-oriented, for acquisition, retention, and utilization. The proposed model integrates research on visual perception and cognition with art hysterical references, cybernetic analogies, and research on the capabilities of young children in drawing from observation.