To furnish art educators with information for improving the art curriculum, this study sought to establish possible relationships between quality art work and the primary variables of student socioeconomic levels, motivation based on fantasy or environmental themes, and budgets using either expensive or free materials. Four sixth-grade classes in two schools (a laboratory school in a culturally advantaged neighborhood and a school in a culturally disadvantaged locale) executed 832 art products, judged by 16 art educators. One class at each school used inexpensive or "found" materials and the other used expensive materials. Greater art quality, craftsmanship, and originality were produced by the use of expensive materials, by fantasy motivation, by students at the culturally advantaged school, by girls, and by academic high achievers. The low-budget art programs considerably diminish high-quality art performance and enjoyment. (This report also includes tables and charts which substantiate findings.) (Author/JB)