How can both viewing and creating art act as a therapy, and benefit our mental health?
When discussing the many ways to improve our mental health, medication, counseling and ‘think more positivity’ seems to be the go-to responses. As I’ve become more and more into the holistic side of health, I’ve come across many different therapies that replace the norm. This has been partially due to my own curiosity, but it’s also been fueled by my need to find something better.
There’s got to be better treatments out there than the traditional medication and quick go-to CBT sessions, right?
Lena kindly sent me over some beautiful hand made artwork. Not only are these functional but they’re also uplifting and inspiring. Lena sent me through 3 beautiful handpainted affirmations, and you all know how I feel about affirmations! I was also gifted with 2 further paintings of flowers and a bookmark. See what I mean when I said they were functional!?
Her Art store has been updated today (July 3rd ’19) with all her latest creations, so be sure to check those out!
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Creating art by painting, drawing, sketching, sculpting, photography, scrapbooking, writing, bullet journals and even just by colouring in are all relaxing and rewarding activities.
Evidence suggests that we carry over 60,000 thoughts in our heads on a daily basis. That’s a lot, and what’s more is that if you suffer from mental illness, the majority of these thoughts are likely to be self-deprecating. Some might even be harmful to us or others around us.
Art, whether creating it or just looking at it, can serve as a distraction and help our brains relax. When you get ‘into the zone’ while painting or drawing you fall into a meditative-like state where all your focus is on just one thing; Creating!
Even spending time viewing art has its benefits. Reading, for example, allows us to escape. The art we choose to hang on our walls, or in galleries serve as a welcome escape from the mundane world. Why look at cars passing your house when you have a beautiful painting above your fireplace? There’s no competition.
In fact, science has suggested that viewing art gives us the same pleasure as falling in love.
Art encourages us to think more creatively both when creating and viewing art. Although the ‘answers‘ may not be as clear cut as math it encourages us to use our creative brain in order to come up with answers and solutions ourselves, with no ‘right‘ answer set in stone.
Looking at art in a gallery doesn’t tell us how to think or what to feel, nor does listening to music or reading a book. You’re left to interpret it as you go, free to make up your own mind.
For those who create art in any form, it injects confidence and a sense of accomplishment. Every little problem you solve, every colour or word or stitch your connect together is using your creative brain to make something beautiful.
That’s why it’s encouraging to put your children’s art on the fridge. You’re showing them that you’re proud and that they did a great job, even if all they did was draw a stick man.
Art can become a way for us to communicate difficult thoughts and feelings that may seem too complex for us to talk about. With art, we can focus on colours, figures, and words which are easier displayed in an artistic manner than by speaking alone.
Often when looking at a painting, listening to a song or reading a story we can feel the emotion behind it, almost as if we were inside that person’s head. It can act as a huge relief for not only the artist but also the viewer or listener as we can be made feel understood and less alone in our own battles.
A study on the educational value of field trips found that children who visited museums reported to feelings of empathy for those who lived before them and expressed more tolerance to those people who may be different from them.
Jay P. Greene, Brain Kisida & Daniel H. Bowen
A study found that artistic expression produced significantly positive health effects, both physical and mental.
“Through creativity and imagination, we find our identity and our reservoir of healing. The more we understand the relationship between creative expression and healing, the more we will discover the healing power of the arts.”
The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health: A Review of Current Literature,2010.
They found that art and music affected patients in these ways:
According to Gutman.SA, artistic hobbies including sewing, drawing, painting, writing, DIY, knitting, etc, increase the dopamine production in our brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and includes several different pathways, one of which focuses on motivation and reward-motivated behaviour.
Creating art, and even viewing it, can promote a positive response in the brain making us feel more focused and preparing us for learning.
Vivian Goldschmidt, MA
The benefits of art in any form are extensive and therefore difficult to fit into just one list. As someone who not only enjoys art but creates it in both writing and sketching, I can only vow for myself when I say I feel accomplished and more fulfilled once a piece of art is created. Even if I hate that piece of art, the act of creating it can put me into a relaxed and focused state.
Do you enjoy art? Have you ever considered or tried art therapy?
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Great post girl! I never actually put it together, that it really is a meditating like state you enter when you create...ive certainly felt it, but never had a name for it...thank you! I've tried to explain it to Pat a 100 times...that it's not something you can just do-you can't just jump into the mindset..its almost like your mind has to travel there..
Perfect post lovey. Xo
Thank you so much, Nikki! I appreciate you stopping by so, so much :) x
One of the things I love about sewing is that it forces me to focus on the task at hand, and really slows my brain down. I don’t know if that’s a form of art, but I’ve experienced many of the pleasant effects you talked about here from doing it.
Sewing, knitting, etc is certainly an art form. It's very relaxing and my grandmother would have sewed right up until her recent passing. She loved it and found it was an excellent way of 'resting' without doing nothing.
Great post! I think art therapy is incredibly underrated, it can work wonders for so many things as you've pointed out. I personally love scrapbooking as a way of keeping myself calm and enjoying a little time to myself. I just love the feeling of pride I get afterwards when I look back through with the knowledge that I did this myself, plus its such a lovely way to look back on your favourite memories. I still need to get myself one of those painting by number sets you mentioned in a previous post too! X
I have always loved sketching, drawing, writing and scrapbooking. It's all something I got away from when I started blogging, and have only managed to keep up the writing side of things. I'll definitely have to get back into it all now :)
I love your little paintings and cards; the writing is beautiful and I love the positive messages on each one.
Making art is a wonderful way to show emotions through colors and pictures, and it is definitely worth a try!
They are truly beautiful. Lena is so talented and she's actually inspired me to create my own art. Thank you for popping by and reading :)
I love art, drawing and taking photos ! I loved this post a lot!!!
Thank you :)
Sewing is great. Love this post! Keep writing x
Thank you very much :)
This is great! You're right, art can come in so many forms! I love cross stitching for the same reasons. I can create something fun (working on a piece for my office right now) while relaxing and kicking back.
I always loved the creative process within Art Therapy but fell down and became incredibly stressed when I was expected to explain what my art was representing or telling the group or listen to the groups interpretations and say if they were right about what I was feeling or thinking.
Because I struggle with words, colours and shapes and using different media helped me to express exactly what was in my head....but I still didn't have the words for it after creating it, it was just out and visible rather than hidden inside me.
Because you don't often have the words art can help significantly. I've known many people who are unable to express how they feel outwardly without the use of art as a communicator. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Take some time out, Ruth, and allow yourself to paint by numbers, draw or even knit/crochet. It's all go the same effect on our minds :)
A lot of useful information about creating and viewing art. I should really try to make some more time to create some art. Had a lot of ideas but no follow through recently, and I could do with the dopamine boost
I agree. I really need to start allocating time to allow me to create as well, but then I spend most of my time writing, so am I already creating?
Sure, it's just a different form of creativity
I'm so happy yall are able to keep connected with each other it really helps, too! Very pretty art work also!
Thank you very much :)