According to studies from King’s College London, it has been found that looking at art and creating art could improve your mental health and relieve your stress.
Viewing art also has a “positive impact” on the immune system, the nervous system and the network of glands responsible for releasing hormones, according to researchers.
The findings suggest art does not just move people emotionally, but can also calm the body, they added.
According to research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College, it has been found that viewing art, such as at an art gallery has an immediate positive impact on the body. In this study 50 volunteers aged 18-40, viewed original artworks at The Courtauld Gallery in London or reproductions of the same paintings in a matched, non-gallery environment. Participants were monitored for heart rate variability and skin temperature using research-grade digital watches to track their levels of interest. This study showed that a key stress hormone, cortisol, went down by an average of 22%.
Creating art as a method of mental health support has been a popular method, which has been going on strong for 80 years, with the original form art therapy being coined in the early 1940’s, by a British artist, Adrian Hill. There are over 2,500 registered art therapists in the UK, and the field is expanding rapidly, meaning this form of mental health support may become more accessible.
We spoke to Dani Briar, an artist who posts her digital and traditional art on her Instagram @_bred.crumbs_. We talked to her about how making her art has helped her:
What do you think art can do for people’s mental health?
Dani: Art can enhance cognitive function and reduce stress meaning that it can be a useful tool for improving mental health.
How do you think art has improved your mental health?
Dani: I’ve always done art so it’s hard to say how it’s helped me other than when I’ve done it to make myself feel better after a bad day.
Which artists have inspired you and your style?
Dani: Artists such as Tim Burton and Edgar Allan Poe have helped me to develop my style
Why do you think more people should get into making art?
Dani: Art not only stimulates the brain and reduces stress but it builds skills such as confidence, creative skills and innovative thinking