Why Art Matters for You?

Art existed for many centuries, thousands of years, before human generation could properly talk or write. It has been an integral part of the lives of many generations. What effect does it have on our well-being?

Appreciating or making art involves many parts of our brains involved in processing senses, emotions, memory, cognition. We are drawn to experiencing art because it creates a warm pleasant feeling, which encourages us to want and pursue more of the same - a bit like good food, fascinating movie or a love affair. Although it is, in essence, a neurochemical reaction, I much more prefer how Aristotle described it as “catharsis”. This is when the emotions you are experiencing are so overpowering that you feel more connected to yourself and those around you. Has it ever happen to you when you saw a brilliant movie or an incredible painting, you wished the moment would last forever and never go away?

Being engaged in art like going to a gallery, watching a play, dancing, listening to the music or painting can help to cultivate your sense of curiosity, think different about life, be more open to new sensations and experiences, stay open to our emotions or simply heal your soul.

Art can not only improve our general well-being, it can also help us to deal with mental or physical trauma.

I do enjoy drawing live models, capturing their physical and emotional state in that particular moment and save it for years. There is this magical connection between your eyes, mind and hands to enable depicting a human on what used to be a blank sheet of paper just a few moments ago.