5 benefits from being around art
This blog was originally shared as an email to my beloved newsletter subscribers on February 21, 2024.
Why do we go out of our way to be around art?
Why plan a whole day to walk the MoMA?
Why book an entire vacation to visit the Louvre?
Why bring home our finds from galleries to decorate the living room?
On the surface, it’s because we like the way that art looks.
It takes years of practice and a lot of skill to make beautiful art and I think it’s safe to say we appreciate that.
Below the surface, there’s something inside of us that lights up when we gaze at its beauty.
That’s because being around and looking at artwork can have many positive effects on your mental and emotional wellbeing.
Here’s a couple reasons why:
Art can stimulate your brain and enhance your cognitive abilities
According to the University of Arizona, viewing, analyzing, and even creating art activates different regions of your brain.
Regions that are responsible for memory, attention, creativity, and problem-solving.
If you were ever in search of a way to improve your focus and memory, take a little trip to your local art gallery!
Art can help you process your emotions and express yourself
It’s amazing just how effective art evokes emotions from us, like joy, sadness, anger, or curiosity.
From that trigger, it can also help you understand and cope with the more difficult ones that come up.
When you own artwork your yourself, it can also provide a safe and healthy outlet for tough emotions you’re dealing with.
Especially those that you may not be able to express verbally or even share with others.
Art can improve your communication and social skills
It opens a door for dialogue and connection with others, since we all have our own interpretations, opinions, and experiences through the same piece.
I don’t only mean the conversations that start with a friend and end with “How’d you get that from this…”
I’m talking about the way we communicate with other cultures through art.
When you are exposed to art made with unique techniques found only in certain cultures, you develop empathy for different peoples around the planet.
Art then becomes a way to learn history, what the artist and their family may have gone through, and you can understand a snapshot of their society at the time.
Art can reduce your stress and anxiety levels
A major reason why many of us surround our space with art, is for its calming and relaxing effect on the mind and body.
It will ground you in the present moment and can also help distract you from negative thoughts, worries, or fears, and replace them with positive ones.
Art can increase your self-esteem and confidence
This benefit boils down to inspiration.
When you pick up a piece of art that motivates you with its message, just looking at it helps you overcome challenges and set goals.
Then when you achieve what you set out to do, that same art makes you feel proud, accomplished, and valued.
This is the number one reason why I create what I do and it’s how I’m setting out to inspire you as much as I can, which is through my art.
It’s pretty amazing just how powerful of an impact artwork can have on your mental and emotional state.
Whether you choose to view, create, or collect [my] art, there’s a million different ways that you can enjoy the many benefits that it offers.
No matter your taste in art, there’s something out there for everybody!
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Emails are my preferred form of communicating with you, where I can really let my personality shine and how I can connect with you authentically.
I also know my words are reaching you every time I type them (vs. the off-chance that the social media algorithms get me in front of you instead.)