Art Influence on Positive Thinking

Art is diverse, yet as unique as each individual who performs actions to express an idea through painting, drawing, woodwork, or design. Everything in our surrounding is an expression of art. Someone had to have an idea, then put it into design, and produce the result, whether a dinette set, refrigerator, oil painting, or garden.

The creativity of an individual or passion for a specific genre of art medium triggers dopamine, increasing awareness, a sense of achievement that surpasses negative thoughts or words about 'self'. The process of creating art takes on physical attention alongside mental focus which redirects the neurons to positive electrical signals in the brain. Art therefore, can be a relaxant, therapy, and becomes an inspiration for others as he or she observes the artwork, and digests the process, and result.

Art exercises the brain with color blends and separation, design, and interpretation, whether in execution, or appreciation. Making decisions about what to do, how to do it, and application of steps to achieve a result, utilizes both the creative and intellectual parts of the brain. The more the brain is exercised, memory increases, along with other portions of the brain functions that interact with the rest of the body. The action could be compared to a ripple effect, where one portion of the brain is stimulated, and stimulates another, in a chain reaction.

Kat Zambon (2013) indicates in an article, How Engaging In Art Effects The Human Brain, that one of the studies of Christopher Tyler involved observers of Artwork, some as they had EMri, others directly observing in a studio. The result was Embodied cognition, explained by Tyler as "the sense of being drawn in to feel the quality of the painting,"(2014). The observations using the EMri revealed increased activity in certain parts of the brain.

Zambon, (2013) also recalls the explanation of mirror neurons when cells in the brain respond similarly when observing or performing an action.

In the case of the Tiger painting, it took concentration and focus to apply all the details, and measurements. The project induced interest in the progress of the painting, rather than interest in other events of the day. This provided relaxation, release, expression, triggering positive thoughts.

In a research article Impact of Visual Art on Waiting Behavior In The Emergency Department (Nanda, U., 2011), results indicated nature pictures hung in the emergency room reduced stress, and provoked more positive behavior in patients waiting for treatment. A link is provided to access the article for full reading.

Visual art is used in therapy, business, schools, and nurseries. Depending on the content, visual art motivates, inspires, calms, excites, and changes moods according to the environment. For example; a nursery would possibly have images of popular children's story characters, or cartoons that include people or animals. Children are usually motivated into moods of happiness, and the images help to reduce fears with familiarity.

I took note at the doctor's office that a calming effect is created by coordinating furniture with paintings of soft colors, and landscapes with flowers and soft clouds.

Another example is in a training room for new employees at a business. Pictures with motivational phrases inspires individuals to be confident, and expand his or her possibilities. Visual art triggers thought processes, emotion, and reaction.

Engaging in an art medium helps as a distraction from daily events, negative thoughts and emotions. At this point, the chemistry sets the stage for positive affirmations to take hold and replace any negativity. Not only are negative thoughts, beliefs or behavior improved, but an individual may also experience positive health changes.

According to the Mayo Clinic (2014), continuous studies show a possible link between positive thinking and health. Some of the benefits the Mayo Clinic listed are;

•Longer life
•Less depression
•Less stress
•better immunity to germs
•Improved physical and thought processes
•Less risk of heart problems
•Increased ability to avoid stress and stay calm through difficult times

Stress causes negative reactions in the body and brain that contribute to lack of luster, the ability to overcome the stressor. The Mayo Clinic team indicates "people who think positive seem to live longer, healthier lives, maintain better eating habits, and exercise regularly"(2014).

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According to Anna Reyner, "Art encourages cognition, critical thinking, and learning" (2008). Beginning with children, arts coupled with academics helps students focus, and retain information. Reyner also adds that results of some studies or research have shown arts increase cognitive and social development, along with critical thinking skills, and motivation.

Similar to music, Art is an experience that triggers a sense of pleasure, or reward, and can contribute to dopamine release, quelling stress. The process allows the individual to relax, socialize, and gain skills that couple thought processes with physical tasks.

"Art develops expressive and reflective skills that enhance writing, promotes print awareness, spatial relation skills, visual literacy, and verbal creativity"(Reyner, A., 2008). Another point is "Young children can work with simple collage materials and beads to introduce numbers, positive and negative space, classification, and sequencing and pattern recognition"(Reyner, A., 2008).

Based on Reyners statements, and results of studies show that children, and adults both can use art to develop new mental and physical skills, while relieving stress through expression. Art sparks motivation, inspiration, satisfaction, and brings health benefits too.

Art is also a very strong way for individuals to express what he or she is feeling, or thinking. Art is a help to people with Autism in that it provides a release of inner emotions, but also helps the individual to express what he or she normally has a difficult time with.

Art can change moods, colors and shapes influencing the visual part of the brain, and is capable of creating inspiration within the artist. Art doesn't have to contain a certain set of lines, shades or colors, and may have no particular shape at all. Splashes of color can mean something more than an articulate building with fine lines and shadows, and might even create a wonderland of play for the artist, enhancing enlightenment or happiness. It definitely is a good way to let off steam, re-create something in memory, or create something entirely new. Art, and expression just go together.

Art engages brain activity, whether as an observer, or artist developing the work. The activity is beneficial in two ways, relaxation, or excitement. Relaxation relieves tension, stress, and allows the brain chemistry to calm and adjust causing better thought processes. Excitement triggers creativity, and positive emotions that also adjust brain chemistry and neural activity. Results become evident with positive thoughts, less stress, better moods, visual/audio stimulation, while motivating the intellectual side of the brain to activate. Thoughts become more focused, muscles relax from dopamine reaction, the body reacts to positive effects, tendencies rise to maintain better diet and exercise, and improved health is possible.

If you think about it, visual art is all around us in daily living whether at home office, doctor, grocery store. The list is practically never ending! It makes sense to take the time to observe visual art, or engage in drawing, painting, beadwork, woodwork, or some other type of media and experience almost automatic therapy. The contribution to positive thinking is worth the time, and think of the benefits!

Lyer, Shriekanth, (2011), Good Health through Positive Thoughts. Retrieved December 9, 2014 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zgMezqUT1M

Mayo Clinic, (2011). Identifying Negative Thinking. Retrieved December 10, 2014 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950?pg=2

Reyner, A.,(2008). Art Influences Learning. Early Childhood News. Retrieved December 7, 2014 from http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=509

Zambon, K.,(2013). How Engaging In Art Effects The Human Brain. AAAS Advancing Science SErving Society. Retrieved December 7, 2014 from http://www.aaas.org/news/how-engaging-art-affects-human-brain

Related reading material:

Althouse, R., Johnson, M., Mitchell, S., (2003). The colors of learning: Integrating the visual arts into the early childhood curriculum. New York: Teachers College Press.

Belden, A. & Fessard, O. (October 2001). Children and the arts. Georgia Family.