When people think of art teachers, they often picture someone who spends all day teaching and then goes home and paints masterpieces. The truth is a little less glamorous than that.
Like most people, life gets busy. There are classes to plan, emails to answer, materials to organise and a hundred other jobs that seem to fill the day. But whenever I do get the chance to sit down with a piece of paper, some charcoal or a paintbrush, something changes. – My mind slows down. –
The list of things I need to do tomorrow fades into the background. For a little while, it’s just me and whatever I’m creating.
I’ve always found that art gives me a sense of calm. Not because everything suddenly becomes perfect, but because it allows me to focus on one thing at a time. When I’m drawing, I’m looking at shapes, shadows and details. I’m not worrying about what happened yesterday or what needs to happen next week.
I know I’m not the only one who feels that way.
Over the years I’ve watched children, teenagers, adults and retirees experience exactly the same thing. Students often arrive carrying the weight of their day with them. School pressures, work stress, family responsibilities or simply the busyness of life. Then they settle into their artwork and something shifts.
They become absorbed in the process. They concentrate. They relax. Sometimes they don’t even realise it’s happening.
What’s interesting is that research is now catching up with what many artists have known for years.
Studies have found that participating in creative activities can help reduce stress, improve emotional wellbeing and support mental health. Researchers have also found that making art can help people regulate emotions, improve self-esteem and create a sense of personal achievement.
Other studies suggest that creative activities encourage mindfulness because they draw our attention into the present moment rather than worrying about the past or future.
What I find particularly interesting is that these benefits aren’t limited to children.
Adults benefit. Teenagers benefit. Older adults benefit.
People don’t need to be talented artists to experience the positive effects of creativity. In fact, many studies show that the process of creating is often more important than the finished artwork itself.
I think that’s why art has remained such an important part of my own life. It’s never really been about producing perfect artwork. It’s about having a space to think, to reflect, to experiment and sometimes simply to breathe.
Some days my artwork turns out exactly as I imagined. Other days it doesn’t. But either way, I always walk away feeling better for having spent the time creating.
Perhaps that’s one of the greatest gifts art gives us. Not perfection. Not competition. Not even the finished piece.
Just the opportunity to slow down, be present, and enjoy your Art Journey as a Personal Journey.