Photo by Timon Klauser on Unsplash

For the average person, it can be intimidating to create and interpret art, but science has proven that it isn’t necessary to have artistic talent in order to reap the many health benefits that are offered by art. Whether or not your artistic masterpiece is worthy of hanging on your fridge or in a museum, art offers you the freedom of trying new things without having to be afraid of falling short and the freedom for releasing your inhibitions.

Producing and viewing art can positively impact the body and mind in significant ways. From improving your quality of life to reducing stress, art is a highly effective health tool that helps people of all ages all over the world.

Art Reduces Stress

According to a blog on Outdoor Art Pros viewing and making art may reduce levels of cortisone that contribute to your stress. A study conducted in 2016 analyzed 39 healthy adults’ saliva samples for testing cortisol levels before and following 45 minutes of making art. It was indicated by the results that making art led to a significant reduction in cortisol levels. Study participants also said they were free of constraints and felt more relaxed after their art-making sessions and they felt very eager to keep creating art into the future.

If you aren’t comfortable creating art by yourself, or prefer having guidelines to help you with the creation process, then take your colored pencils out and try using an anti-stress adult coloring book. In recent years adult coloring books really have become a hot trend and have been proven to relax the mind and be very therapeutic. Coloring is similar to mediation, in that it allows you to focus on just one thing at once; this helps with alleviating any anxiety you might have.

Art is Really Good for Your Mind

Since art isn’t an exact science the way that math is, individuals can learn how to develop their creating problem-solving skills while they are creating art. Medical professionals even use art to help keep their minds sharp. There is a museum-based program called “Enhancing Observational Skills” that is a required class now for first year medical students at Yale. The concept here is teaching students how to clearly see and observe so they can care for patients later in the best possible way.

Self-esteem can also be improved through creating art. Completing a project can make you feel happy and provide you with a sense of accomplishment. That also applies within the art arena. When a work of art is completed, the same feelings will happen and result in increased dopamine levels.

Quality Of Life Can Be Improved By Art

It has been proven that art is a very powerful therapeutic tool. Dementia and Alzheimer’s patients are those who are most commonly provided with art therapy as a way of improving communication skills and focus that these diseases affect. The senses are stimulated by creating art and can help with recollecting memories that are appear to be dormant.

For cancer patients art is a very popular therapy as well. There was a study where children who were undergoing painful cancer procedures were provided with art therapy that led to collaborative and more positive behavior being ultimately expressed. Adults and children both who have gone through traumatic experiences frequently internalize the pain they are feeling. Art therapy and art enables people to release and express experiences that are too painful to verbalize.