We all have a hobby in which we choose to invest both time and money. Some hobbies are more expensive; also, some remain only hobbies, while others may turn into a profession. One of the oldest hobbies, which is quite popular nowadays, is painting. Why? Because it is a fun activity that stimulates the imagination and relaxes the brain.
Painting embraces all the ten functions of the eye; that is to say, darkness, light, body and color, shape and location, distance and closeness, motion and rest ~Leonardo da Vinci
In fact, there are
many reasons to pick up a paintbrush but here are my top 10:
- Positive mindset: Painting teaches you to be attuned to the aesthetic of your visual environment and makes you appreciate the beauty
in and of life. You gain a new appreciation for the texture of a tree’s
bark or the fur of a cat; of the various highlights and shadows playing on
even the barer of white walls. Embracing the beauty around you gives you a
more positive outlook on the world and can even decrease the risk of
mental illness.
- Boosts creativity: Whether the painting is abstract or
realistic, minimalist or chaotic, paintings are modes of artistic
expression. Abstract art requires the artist to create interesting,
non-traditional pieces, while realistic art requires the artist to come up
with imaginative ways to make the image come to life. Artists yearn to be
innovative, to create — or even recreate — something with a personal
touch, a new flair that reveals one’s deepest expressions and motivations.
- Concentration and healing: People who immerse themselves several
hours painting or creating something enter a purer area, in a very strong
state of concentration; they abstract themselves from their surroundings
and time passes by without noticing it. Physical pains fade away; it is
almost like entering another dimension without leaving our body. This
concentration state is called Alpha; one part of the brain is conscious
and the other pulls the unconscious out. There is more concentration
because a pure energy is transmitted to what´s being created, and we can
spend hours without feeling tiredness, pain or other conditions (unlike
other activities.) This is a state similar to that achieved through
praying, meditation, music, aromatherapy, and being in love. There have
been cases of miraculous temporary healing in painters, musicians who,
when in this state, are able to move their atrophied hands or don´t feel
pain when creating or executing. Painters Renoir, Gauguin, and musician
Andrés Segovia are examples of this.
- Emotional intelligence: Emotions are part of the creative world we
all have inside. Making those emotions flow through painting helps create
harmony between the heart and mind, which leads us to experience
happiness, love, empathy, and peace. Within this chaotic world we live, the
visualization and relaxation that we obtain through painting are tools
that in the long run, benefit our emotional, organic, energetic, and
spiritual being.
- Sharpen fine motor skills: From broad backgrounds to fine details,
practicing painting improves hand-eye coordination and boosts motor
skills. This is helpful in improving fine activities such as typing and
handwriting, but painting can also improve coordination in broader
activities such as participating in sports.
- Perseverance: Even the most innovative ideas have the
possibility of being terribly executed. If a painting does not turn out the
way you envisioned, you become determined to fix the problems until the
piece becomes what you want it to be. This cycle of trial and error can
last seemingly forever at times but can make a more capable, more
determined person. When faced with disappointment, you adopt the notion
that with hard work, you will be certain to improve, enabling you to
further reach your goals in life.
- Self-confidence: Just as knowing hard work yields better
results, finishing a painting that you are happy with feels great and
gives you a boost in self-esteem. Getting positive feedback from your
peers also increases the sense of self-assurance that comes with making a
work of your own.
- Cultural knowledge: Painting increases your appreciation for
visual art by teaching the variety and difficulties of learning
techniques. Knowledge of popular modern and historical art pieces and
trivia provides you with a knowledge that can be shared, promoting
sociability within various cultures and degrees of company. Relating with
others will foster bonding, increasing social skills and leading to higher
levels of happiness.
- Critical thinking: Choosing which brush to use or which
paints to mix to create the exact color you need makes you a more
decisive person. Though it may seem like deciding on “just art”, these
types of decisions promote problem-solving skills and teach painters to
develop innovative techniques to approach new situations. Decision-making
skills make your mind more efficient and this ability can alleviate
stress.
- Non-verbal communication: Painting inspires you to communicate your
deepest thoughts and feelings; even those that you may not be able to
express verbally, through your art. They say a picture is worth a thousand
words and communicating what those words may be — whether they reflect
current worldwide events or personal happenstance — being able to
communicate on a nonverbal level can serve as a healthy release of
emotion.
So it’s up to you,
for your health, your amusement, or personal goal, let’s paint!