Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Release the Artist Within:
- Art Promotes Mental Stimulation: Did you know making art improves concentration and mindfulness? While creating art you use both your left and right sides of the brain. A recent study published in NeuroImage suggests that people who are better at drawing have more developed brain structures.1 As you make art, your concentration increases and for a few hours you will forget the anxieties and stress that comes along with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease (PD) or Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
- Art Promotes Development of Fine Motor Skills: Holding a paintbrush requires effort! During our Smile through Art Workshops, we work on our fine motor skills by grasping onto our paintbrush and focus on creating a steady hand to work against the tremors that are present. Extension and flexion, extension and flexion, a movement of the arms is made to bring the brush to every corner of the canvas. The best part is that we do these moves unconsciously without thinking that we are exercising!
- Art Promotes Relaxation: Art allows you to function as a whole being. As you start painting or making any form of art, your parasympathetic system of the brain kicks in and causes your heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rates to decrease. You feel relaxed and the colors you work with help you enter a state of colorful bliss. Studies have also shown that the use of color impacts calmness, comfort, warmth, and serenity.2
- Art Makes You SMILE: When you finish something that YOU created, you smile and feel accomplished. These feelings cause an increased release of feel good neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, and you start feeling better and your mood is elevated! During our Smile Through Art Workshops, 98% of the participants that join our sessions have reported that prior to starting their art activity they were content or sad but after completing their masterpiece they were happy and felt more positive about themselves!
- Art Promotes Fun: Making art is FUN! This is your chance to try something new and combat the areas of your medical condition that you struggle with. You might be a first-time artist and that is perfectly okay! Experiment with different mediums and do not be afraid to try something new. Remember, in making art there are no mistakes. Many of our Artists living with neurological conditions are first time artists. There is an artist that is inside each one of us. So, try something new, have fun with it, and create your very first masterpiece!
How Can You Get Started?
- Adult Coloring Books:These can be found at your local Dollar store craft store or online at Amazon and are an easy way to start experimenting with colors.
- Get a Journal: Grab a piece of paper and any writing utensil and start doodling, create different shapes, and allow your mind and thoughts to come down on paper.Emerging studies show that art expression may help individuals reconnect thinking and feeling. While journaling is a great way to get in touch with your thoughts and feelings, you can get even better results if you add doodles.
- Use your Smart Phone: become a digital artist and use your smart phone to download free applications such as Colorfy or Pigment. There are various images to choose from and an array of colors to help stimulate your mind while promoting relaxation.
- The Art Cart Offers Artfulness Kits:Our Artfulness Kits come equipped with everything you need to start your very first art activity (painting, sculpture, drawing, etc.). If you sign up for our monthly subscription you can get a new art activity enclosed with everything you need! If you are interested in purchasing your very first Artfulness Kit contact us at livebetter@crativeneurology.com
For more information on The Art Cart’s Smile Through Art Workshops, please visit www.smilethroughart.com.
References:
- Hogenboom, M. (2014, April 17). Artists ‘have structurally different brains’ – BBC News. Retrieved January 27, 2016, from http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-26925271
- Cherry, K. (2015, October 7). Can Color Really Change How You Feel and Act? Retrieved January 27, 2016, from http://psychology.about.com/od/sensationandperception/a/colorpsych.htm
