Creating art is a practice humans have done since prehistorical times. The first pieces of art that we are aware of are cave paintings. Since art is such an integral part of humanity the question of why we create art naturally arises. There is no definite answer on why ancient humans painted but there are many theories that range from storytelling to recording events and even maybe as a source of communication. Today there are many forms of art created by people. From creating music or statues and even books all could be considered art. Prehistoric humans created art to help survive or to tell stories. People today who create art can be creating art simply for desiring money or fame. But what if the creation of art was not simply just for these exterior motives? If that was the case then the reason behind creation of art comes down to how it affects our psychology.
Creating music can have a deep impact on the brain, creating music can increase Gray matter around the parts of the brain that process sound and movement. Gray matter helps with stuff like motor control and processing information throughout the brain. This means that creating music can directly help people improve at certain tasks.The creation of music also triggers the release of dopamine and can help with neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt and change so creating music can help the creator’s brain stay “flexible” and be ready to adapt to changes in environment or learning new things.
Cooking is not always the first thing many people think of when they think of art but it still falls under the category. Cooking comes with a list of psychological benefits including but not limited to providing a creative outlet, boosting creativity and relieving stress. Cooking also has been proven to be a way to boost your confidence.
Painting is probably the most recognized form of art in history, after all it was one of the first forms of art humans participated in. It is no wonder painting is so popular, one of the major benefits of painting is expressing emotion. Having a blank canvas to draw on and creating what you want is a great way to express yourself. Painting can also provide a way to improve mental concentration. This is because the right and left side of your brain can be active and engaged by painting. Painting can also provide a way to improve problem solving skills as a great man once said “We don’t make mistakes, just happy accidents”. A lot of famous artists feel very personally connected to their paintings. Vincent Van Gogh is quoted saying “ I dream my painting, and then I paint my dream”. This is because from the very start of the blank canvas to the finished painting all of it is controlled by the painter that is why it is such a good medium of expression.
Ms. Sarate, here at Page, creates art in the form of painting. She said that “It is nice to have control over the canvas and be able to create what you would like”. She also said that she found painting very calming. This all reinforces the idea about painting and creating art in general about how it can be used for your own psychological benefit. Think of it like exercising any other part of your body but instead you are exercising the brain.
