In the meantime, though, Kaimal’s results confirm what art junkies around the world know very well: Making art is actually, factually, good for the body, mind and soul. Even if said art resembles the deranged scribbles of a grumpy toddler.
Source: Study Says Making Art Reduces Stress, Even If You Kind Of Suck At It
I have said for years that art is simply a creative process by which we communicate. We are all driven to create. It’s been in our DNA since the day humans first started walking upright. It’s literally what makes us human. That creativity takes innumerable forms: cooking, composing, writing, scrapbooking, photography, decorating, journaling. And no, we aren’t all good at it, but we all need to do it.
By the way, this is one of the reasons I have always loved Bob Ross. Not just that his program was “local” (it was filmed a my university), but because he compelled thousands and thousands of people around the world–from small children to their elderly grandparents–to create. He told them it was okay to make things, and that there was no wrong way to be creative. Just showing up and doing it is all that’s required. I think he knew he was giving the world art therapy.
True story: When I was in high school, I did an epic amount of babysitting. My family lived in married student housing, so there were tons of kids with parents who took university classes and needed babysitters. So I’d watch groups of kids, sometimes 8-10 at a time. And when it was time for Bob Ross to air, I sat them all down with art supplies and let them go to town. He was soothing, affirmative, and non-judgmental, and the kids really seemed to enjoy the watching him and making art. If you’re going to plunk kids in front of the TV, give them art supplies and turn on Bob Ross.
red paper boat 