We all have a hobby in which we choose to invest both time and money. Some hobbies are more expensive; also, some remain only hobbies, while others may turn into a profession.
One of the oldest hobbies, which is quite popular nowadays, is painting and drawing. Why? Because it is a fun activity that stimulates the imagination and relaxes the brain.
The benefits that painting and drawing brings into our lives include;
1. IMPROVED CREATIVITY
Painting and drawing
would obviously make use of one’s imagination. They would create vivid images
of houses, people, and places. People can even choose to portray their emotions
and produce abstract art. As these would entail the creation of personal works,
one would have to use his artistic skills. These activities would then play a
beneficial role in the development of one’s brain.
For right-brained or artistic people, painting and drawing
would be healthy ways of enhancing the creative skills that they already
manifest. On the other hand, left-brained or analytical people
can also stimulate their creativity and improve it.
Knowing these factors,
drawing, and painting is highly recommended for children. In fact, many children
who are at developing ages are encouraged to engage in painting and
drawing. By promoting the development of their brains, they would be more
prepared for academic work. Furthermore, they would have an easier time
conveying their ideas to their peers.
2. IMPROVED MEMORY
On the other hand, the
health benefits of painting and drawing are also enjoyed by those who
experience illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease. Although they may have
problems with their memory, enabling them to engage in painting and drawing can
help boost their recalling skills. As they sharpen their minds through
imagination and thinking, they may experience less complicated conditions of
their illnesses. Thus, they may still enjoy a lot of activities in their lives
in spite of their condition.
3. IMPROVED
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Another point in the
long list of health benefits of painting and drawing would involve the
opportunity to improve one’s communication with other people.
As art involves
expressing one’s inner thoughts and feelings, he may project all these
indescribable emotions through paintings and drawings. In using art to break
free from personal limitations, individuals can surpass their weaknesses. These
can include shyness, autism, and other disabilities.
Furthermore, as
painting and drawing are continuous processes, these individuals would improve
their flow of thought as they create such artworks. These can be very useful
for their future endeavors.
4. IMPROVED PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS
Aside from these
benefits, people may actually be surprised that painting and drawing can also
instigate the development of critical thinking and problem-solving. In fact,
painting and drawing enables an individual to realize that there can be
more than one solution to a single problem. As they discover the artworks they
can produce from a blank sketch pad, they develop the technique of thinking
outside the box.
Painting and drawing
would widen their perspectives on various situations. In effect, they would be
able to address various tasks in a creative and very effective way.
Emotional Restoration
5. STRESS RELIEF
Perhaps the major
health benefits of painting and drawing involve the emotional aspects of
individuals. For one, many people use art to release stress.
As the pressures of
life can be very tiring, individuals have tried painting and drawing to relax
from the demanding requirements of life. They are able to free themselves from
the stress that has accumulated by releasing these in the form of color and
drawing. As they temporarily exit the world of fears and worries, they enter
the world of fun and excitement.
Releasing one’s stress can be very beneficial
to reduce their risk of other physiological illnesses.
6. MORE POSITIVE
EMOTIONS
Additionally, creating
these paintings and drawings would obviously lessen the negative emotions
within an individual. This would be replaced by positive thoughts and
feelings as color and drawings would be exemplified. Of course, as one develops
his skills in painting and drawing, these would produce very good results.
Hence, this may make an individual feel good about his capabilities. These
activities would boost his self-esteem and would inspire him to believe in what
he can do.
Through these health
benefits of painting and drawing, an individual may also develop optimism and feel
happier through painting and drawing. With the body and mind
becoming more relaxed, one can function better.
7. RELEASE OF
HIDDEN EMOTIONS
Furthermore, as one
pours out his emotions through art, he concentrates on releasing all these
hidden emotions. In fact, physical pain may even disappear as one is deeply
involved in his paintings and drawings. Research has called this state
the “Alpha”; this signifies that part of one’s brain is
consciously performing activities while the unconscious part is also expressed.
Such a state can also be obtained from other activities such as prayer, music,
and meditation. This state would release energy and would revitalize an
individual. He would gain strength in this special form of recovery. In effect,
the healing process can be faster and more effective.
Knowing these
benefits, it isn’t surprising to know that painting and drawing are
highly recommended for an individual’s recuperation from painful events such
as war and abuse (e.g. rape). In fact, many therapists include these activities
in the schedules of their patients. They would encourage their patients to
release their feelings.
As an individual is
able to find a safe environment to convey his emotions, the health benefits of
painting and drawing can be maximized to aid the recovery of this said, individual. He would be immersed in a world of cleansing from all the bitter
events that may have happened to him. His stress level and emotional anxiety
would be soothed, thus enabling him to function better and return back to his
regular work.
Through painting and
drawing, many therapies have become successful. With the added support of
family and loved ones, patients are able to achieve inner peace and find
closure from their previous experiences.
8. INCREASE OF
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Given these various
health benefits of painting and drawing, it is clear that these activities can
cause an increase in an individual’s emotional intelligence. In enabling one’s
emotions to flow through art, one can create a better grasp of his varying
feelings. One can experiment on feelings of joy, peace, love, and happiness
while performing these tasks.
Through the
improvements in one’s personality and emotional stability, painting and drawing
do not benefit a single individual but even the people around him. As the
individual would be able to respond to the emotions felt by others, these people
would also share the positive effects of art.
The individual who
engages in doing such art can brighten other people’s days and help them cope
with whatever difficulties they may experience. As he has more control of his
emotions, he would be an excellent companion for the people with whom he
interacts.
Improving the
Senses
As the health benefits
of painting and drawing are evident in one’s mental activities, these
activities can also promote the improvement of the senses. Knowing the role of
the brain in delivering messages to instruct the actions to be performed by
one’s body, stimulating this integral organ is vital to improve the organs it
controls. Thus, an individual who has engaged in painting and drawing would
experience many positive changes in how he would respond to and perceive the
world.
9. BETTER MOBILITY
For one, art can
enable a person to have better mobility. As the individual would need to use a
brush or pencil to create his artworks, he would develop more efficient hand
movements. Through the improvement of one’s brain activities, signals can be
effectively sent from the brain to the motor neurons that would deliver the
specific action that must be performed. As a result, fine motor skills would
arise.
10. YOU BECOME MORE
OBSERVANT OF THE DETAILS
To add to the list of
health benefits of painting and drawing, these activities would enable one to
become more observant of the details of his surroundings. As one is more
exposed to light, darkness, color, shading, and many other properties of
painting and drawing, he would be able to pay closer attention to finer
details. His eyes would be trained to look for intricate designs and forms that
may have been ignored in the past. Thus, as the brain would let one’s
concentration improve, an individual may see and appreciate even the most
miniscule details that can be viewed.
Conclusion
Given the various
health benefits of painting and drawing, it is clear these activities can be
very useful in promoting the welfare of an individual. Aside from improving
mental and emotional capabilities, an individual may enjoy improved sensory and
motor skills through constant painting and drawing. As anyone can engage in
painting and drawing, these activities are definitely worth a try.
Knowing the difficulties that are offered by life, it would be nice to occasionally take some time off, lift a paintbrush or pencil, and start painting or drawing. Thus, it comes as no surprise that such activities have been loved by millions around the world throughout the years.