Why Making Art is Magic!
Recently I’ve been pondering why I love making art. I think it is because art making is the closest thing I have to magic in my life. As a little girl I desperately wanted magical powers. Why couldn’t I twitch my nose like Samantha on Bewitched and watch as my room cleaned itself? I wasn’t delusional, just hopeful. I also thought gnomes lived in the bushes in the park down the street but that is another story.
Nothing is more exciting to me than starting a new art project. How magical is it to transform a blank sheet of paper or canvas into something colorful, and energetic or calm, detailed and thoughtful? Making art provides a break from the daily mundane tasks of living, the current crazy political mess, and depressing headlines about natural and manmade disasters. I’m not one to bury my head in the sand but I do enjoy entering my own world of creativity for a few hours every day.
With a little research I’ve discovered that my positive feelings about making art are actually backed up by scientific research.
Creative Engagement Improves Moods
In their book, The Cambridge Handbook of Creativity, James Kaufman and Robert Sternberg cite numerous scientific studies indicating that creativity leads to better moods. Describing the findings of a recent study they say
Being creative on day one predicted increases in positive affect and, more strongly, increased flourishing on the following day…personality factors did not moderate these relationships–everyday creativity is beneficial to a range of people, not just a select group or disposition…it seems that…everyday creativity increases well-being.
I’m a huge advocate of creative engagement but it surprised me to learn that If you participate in a creative activity on Monday you will continue to enjoy a boost in your mood on Tuesday. Since I’m constantly encouraging everyone I know to try making art I’m also happy to learn that even if you don’t think of yourself as creative or are just naturally a big grouch, engaging in a creative activity will still improve your emotional well-being.
Making Art About Something Positive Repairs Bad Moods
Anne Dalebroux, Thalia R. Goldstein and Ellen Winner conducted a study in which they compared drawing a happy picture vs. venting negative emotions through art as a way to improve one’s bad mood. The scientists concluded that drawing a happy picture was a much more effective way to boost one’s mood. They elaborated saying
These findings are consistent with research on the beneficial effects of positive emotions and cast doubt on the often assumed view that artists improve their well being by expressing suffering.
Short-term mood repair through art-making: Positive emotion is more effective than venting
As someone who never experienced a beneficial effect from writing out morning pages I find this study very interesting. I know many folks love morning pages but for me it just felt like diving into the soup of everything that makes me anxious instead of getting my negative thoughts out and leaving them behind. I’m more apt to escape into something happy – like making art. I’ve always felt uneasy about this tendency but maybe I was on the right track for me.
Art Making Enriches Lives
Frances Ann Reynolds studied a group of women who started making art after retirement. The women reported that making art enriched their mental lives “promoting enjoyment of the sensuality of colour and texture, presenting new challenges, playful experimentation, and fresh ambitions.” Art also helped the women to make connections outside of their homes and connect more deeply with family members.
According to Reynolds
[participating in art making] encouraged attention to the aesthetics of the physical environment, preserved equal status relationships, and created opportunities for validation. Art-making protected the women's identities, helping them to resist the stereotypes and exclusions which are commonly encountered in later life.
Colour and communion: Exploring the influences of visual art-making as a leisure activity on older women's subjective well-being (Journal of Aging Studies)
Well, I don’t know about you but all of that science adds up to a lot of magic for me. Let’s go make some art! If you need some help getting into a creative mindset check-out my Doodle Hunting class:
If you’d like to read more about creativity and making art take a look at my blog
www.portiamonberg.com/art-creativity-tips