Art For Wellbeing...

Some people prefer landscapes, others love the realism of portraiture...​
​One thing for sure, Art is a very subjective...

But what is becoming more evident is the impact that art can have our well being. ​As an artist, I know without doubt from personal experience that art has been good for my well being.  Like many artists, whether that's a painter, musician or writer, when you get into a flow state where the gaze softens, the shoulders drop, and the breath calms...there really is nothing like it.
However, you don't have to be an artist to get the benefits, a recent study conducted by Kings College London, has found physiological benefits of viewing original artwork. 

I was intrigued to learn that the study suggested that Art has a potential calming effect on the body's inflammatory processes, with Cortisol (a key stress hormone) falling by an average 22% in those viewing the artworks, the study also found that art activated the immune, endocrine and nervous systems all at once.

The concept of art helping with well-being has been known for a while, back in 2015 Fujurara & Mackerron reported that visiting museums and galleries had a positive impact on happiness and self reported health in adults. Nobel prize winning neuroscientist Eric Kandel went as far as to say that, " Abstract Art more than any other has the ability to connect more directly with viewers".  Anything that can help with our well being has to be a good thing... but I for one am pleased to hear there is evidence to prove the benefits of Art, whether that is as an artist or viewer of Art - especially Abstract art.

On the Studio Playlist - In the spirit of finding calm,  this week we have Bruce Springsteen, I know he maybe not the first person who comes to mind when you think of calming songs, but personally I find "The Ghost of Tom Joad", always sets me up for painting, take a listen here.

As always thank you for your company - see you next week.