The Science of Art and Wellness

Find Your Creative Zen 

Commonly known as the “stress hormone”, cortisol helps regulate your body's response to stress (cortisol levels spike when we experience a fight-or-flight response). Studies have shown that just 20 minutes of art-making can reduce cortisol levels and help keep stress at bay.

ALP Tip

To ease the transition out of work mode and prepare for a restful evening, block out 20 minutes in the late afternoon or early evening to doodle or practice a mindful drawing technique.

Discover the Joy of Art-Making 

Dopamine is released when we do something pleasurable, making us feel more joyful, focused, and motivated. Science has found that repetitive creative motions like drawing, painting, or collaging flood the brain with dopamine. 

ALP Tip

Instead of immediately hopping on the hamster wheel of work and life, take 10-20 minutes (or more) in the morning to draw or watercolor something from nature.

Promote Whole-Body Wellness Through Creative Play 

Often called the “feel-good” hormone, serotonin plays a critical role in regulating mood and is associated with feelings of happiness and well-being. It’s also responsible for regulating digestion, sleep, memory — even bone health. Science has found that drawing, collaging and other forms of creative play stimulates serotonin production and activates the brain’s reward center (Mayo Clinic, The Arts in Psychotherapy).

ALP Tip

When you’re feeling down, make a collage card for a friend or loved one — a “quick fix” that actually works. Studies have shown that this kind of mindful creative play and gratitude practice helps promote feelings of well-being and satisfaction.

Doodle for Better Brain Health

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s capacity to continue growing and evolving in response to life experiences. When you engage in a new or complex activity (hello, art-making), your brain forges new neural pathways, rewiring itself to adapt to changing environments at any age. Studies have found that doodling builds self-confidence, increases memory capacity, and helps you get into a creative flow state.

ALP Tip

Feeling fried? Resist the urge to zone out on devices during weekends and downtime, and break out your Studio Set instead. Gather your materials and a few friends at a nearby park (or your backyard) and create together while enjoying time in nature.

Experience the Healing Power of Art-Making

We all experience loss and grief at some point in our lives, and navigating the emotional fallout can be difficult to manage. Art-making can be a powerful form of therapy and healing, as it engages non-verbal parts of the brain and can help people express emotions that are too painful to verbalize. (Cleveland Clinic)

ALP Tip

When you are experiencing grief, take time to doodle in nature –– or any place that provides a sense of comfort and safety. Allow yourself to express a range of feelings through colors, lines, and shapes.

Don’t forget your colored pencils: exposure to certain colors can help promote joyfulness (yellows), healing (greens) and a sense of tranquility and peace (blues).