Study Says Art Makes You Mentally Healthier, Even If You're Not Good At It

[orleans]

"Not all of us are artists. But all of us can paint, sculpt, draw, sketch, and do some forms of an artsy thing, on varying levels. Some of us are just naturally more gifted than others, but it doesn’t matter. If you enjoy it, do it. You really don’t have to make a living out of it, and if you are unsure as to whether you might enjoy it, still do it. Not only is there a possibility that you might like it, but also a possibility of making you mentally healthier. Yes, you heard it – mentally healthier. Research has shown:

"Music and art may have a positive effect on physiological states.[1] Art can improve the well-being of breast cancer patients. In a study, art reduced negative emotions and improved positive ones.[2]
Art can improve overall health and well-being, by offering a form of distraction,[3] improving self-identity and providing a social network to those with chronic illness.
And a recent study in 2016, by Kaimal et al, entitled Reduction of Cortisol Levels and Participants’ Responses Following Art Making found that making art can significantly reduce stress levels, regardless of artistic talent or experience.[4]"

[more at link]

https://www.lifehack.org/429885/study-says-art-makes-you-mentally-healthier-even-if-youre-not-good-at-it

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Are its health benefits inversely proportionate to your skills?

A lot of famous artists had health problems or were just plain nuts. But I suck at art, so will that keep me healthy?

[keithbvadu2]

2. You can still appreciate it even if you cannot do it yourself.

You can still appreciate it even if you cannot do it yourself.

[NJCher]

3. I completely agree with this

One of the happiest guys I know is both an artist and musician. He's an art teacher, plus a well known freelance in this area, doing such artistic tasks as signs, designing menus, and even painting murals.

He sings and plays the guitar, and performs at festivals and the like.

I'm not especially talented as an artist, but I have a huge stash of art supplies and have done everything from batik, shibori, garment design, watercolor, acrylics, to calligraphy. One doesn't have to be able to draw--there are so many endeavors that don't call for that ability.

I also have an art tablet and draw on the computer. I like playing around with my scanner and adjusting images, too.

Some of my most creative ideas come from when I engage in art work.

Cher

[Doreen]

4. I am not good with most arts and

have no patience to stay in one place to do them. I say most arts because I used to be very good at one art then I got into an accident that made it so I can no longer do it. My art was dressage. Now my lack of balance would have me on the ground under the horse instead of on the horse.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

5. No matter how I feel I do art.

Because it really does help.

[lastlib]

6. The kid who FLUNKED first-grade coloring (moi) says...

he can do just fine without art.

I'm a left-brain person. Period. Art never gave me anything but stress and grief. I was much happier calculating thermodynamic field tensors, or evaluating lines of the Fischer-Sozin attack in chess. Give me crayons, and I'd just melt 'em.