The Holistic Health-Enhancing Powers of Art

“Morning Walk on the Pathway Behind Blue Mountain Lake” 5” x 7” oil on linen. Painted on site and finished off in studio

Healing Through Creating Art

1. Art as Therapy

• Used in hospitals, PTSD treatment, and rehabilitation centers.

• Promotes emotional processing, nonverbal expression, and stress reduction.

• Studies show creating visual art reduces cortisol and promotes dopamine release.

2. Flow State and Mindfulness

• Painting can induce a state of flow—deep focus that quiets the analytical mind.

• Acts as a form of active meditation, especially in natural settings.

3. Emotional Regulation

• Externalizing emotions through marks, color, and form helps process grief, anxiety, trauma, or joy.

• Can enhance self-awareness and personal insight over time.

Little 3” x 3” ballpoint pen sketch of Diego Velázquez

The Power of Color (Chroma Therapy)

1. Color Psychology

• Colors affect mood and energy:

  • Blue: calming, lowers heart rate.

  • Red: energizing, increases alertness.

  • Green: balancing, linked to restoration and harmony.

  • Yellow: optimistic, stimulates serotonin.

2. Chroma in Nature & Painting

• Working with and observing color outdoors boosts sensory integration and attunement.

• Harmonious palettes can soothe the nervous system and increase feelings of well-being and happiness.

Physical Benefits of Plein Air Painting

1. Movement & Outdoor Activity

• Hiking to painting spots builds cardiovascular fitness, core strength, and endurance.

• Carrying gear engages muscles in a functional, low-impact way.

2. Fresh Air and Natural Light

• Sunlight boosts Vitamin D, mood, and circadian rhythm regulation.

• Time in nature lowers blood pressure and inflammation markers.

3. Sensory Engagement

• Engaging all five senses (sight, smell, touch, hearing, even taste) enhances presence and reduces stress.

• Forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) practices align closely with plein air painting in wooded or rural areas.

• If the forest is not your thing and you prefer the beach, similar benefits can be enjoyed by walking along the ocean while searching for a scene to paint too.

Plein air painting recently completed at a local golf course on a hot summer morning.

Psychological & Cognitive Benefits

1. Visual Learning and Problem Solving

• Composing a scene builds spatial reasoning, decision-making, and creative problem solving.

• Enhances visual memory and design intelligence.

2. Mood Elevation & Reduced Anxiety

• Just 20–30 minutes of painting can shift mental state from stress to calm.

• Making beauty can override the fight-or-flight response, especially in trauma survivors.

3. Gratitude and Awe

• Observing or creating beauty cultivates gratitude, linked to increased happiness and resilience.

• Studies in positive psychology suggest that awe (often triggered by art or nature) leads to pro-social behavior and reduces ego-centric thought patterns.

Healing by Viewing and Living with Art

1. Daily Visual Stimulation

• Having art visible in your home or workspace can promote:

  • Lower anxiety

  • Greater optimism

  • Enhanced resilience

  • Enhanced creativity

• Abstract art and landscape paintings have been shown to reduce hospital stays and pain perception.

2. Sacred & Intentional Aesthetics

• Viewing art with intention—especially beauty—can foster spiritual connection and inner coherence.

• The act of consciously appreciating beauty can be a form of prayer or mindfulness.

  
  

Community, Belonging, and Expression

1. Art as Social Connection

• Joining plein air groups, exhibiting work, or simply sharing with friends fosters belonging and vulnerability.

• Collaborative art-making (even in silence) creates shared purpose and emotional safety through connection.

2. Legacy and Storytelling

• Creating art helps individuals tell their story and leave a legacy.

• Especially powerful for aging adults, those in grief, or life transitions.

3. Gifting

• While the idea of receiving hand made artwork as a gift is not something that resonates with everyone, you may have more friends and family than you might think who will genuinely appreciate a handmade piece of art as a gift (or a compliment to a purchased gift).

• The joy of knowing that your handmade art is helping a friend or family member decorate their living space is hard to describe but it is a special gift that the giver receives…

Adopting simple, regular, creative practice can be a great way to start exploring the benefits of creating art.

A simple series of drawings or small paintings, even abstract doodles created over a series of time can help you gain access to these health benefits, build a body of work and learn and grow as an artist — and a human.