How Art Can Be Therapeutic

How Art Can Be Therapeutic

How Art Can Be Therapeutic

People have a lot of wrong ideas about art, one of which is that you have to be born with the talent to do anything with it. So many people are afraid to get involved in the arts because they don't think it will help them or because they don't have any talent.

There are many kinds of art. Art can be painting, gardening, acting, playing, singing, or playing music. It can also be making pottery, sculpture, prints, etc.

Art gives inspiration, motivation, peace, harmony, confidence, and success. It also leads you to do many good things for your mental health. The therapeutic value of art is just one of its many advantages.

Different Genres of Art

What are we really attempting to communicate when we discuss 'genre' in art? What does the term "genre" in art mean?

 

The word "genre" has two distinct meanings: first, it refers to the style or classification of a painting. On the other hand, it indicates the subject matter or content of a specific image.

 

Up until the early 19th century, the term "genre" was in use. The hierarchy is as follows:

 

History painting: paintings that depict historical events or occasions
Portraits: paintings that were exclusively self, group, and individual portraits
Genre painting: paintings that made general references to all paintings depicting real-life settings (such as the home, the street, and the market) without displaying the interplay of the characters.
Landscape painting: referred to all works of art that showed "empty" natural settings.
Still Life: paintings that portrayed various items from a domestic setting arranged artistically.

"Art" as a whole cannot be summarily explained, but if one is familiar with art in any form, it's always a good idea to be aware of the many genres. One can even study the various genres in detail because they all have a lot to teach us.

Therapeutic benefits of Art

A person's emotional and physical health can benefit greatly from therapeutic art. Therapeutic art is a healing process that promotes deeper self-worth and self-assurance. Below are some of the therapeutic benefits of arts:

1. Art enhances one's quality of life.

 

Great art allows us to express our fears and relieve tensions, improving our well-being. It also encourages "now and now" experiences, allowing us to enjoy the present rather than dwelling on the past or the future. Viewing and discussing works of art remind us of the world's beauty and promise.

2. Art promotes self-expression and identity development.

 

Art is very personal, even when we share it with others. What we produce is a reflection of ourselves. It can even assist us in discovering who we are. Making art improves one's self-esteem. While some hobbies may be challenging to pick up later in life, you can find creative wellsprings and hidden artistic talents at any age.

 

3. Art fosters strong bonds.

 

Sharing art fosters meaningful relationships, especially for seniors who may be socially isolated. People can keep active and involved by attending art lessons or group art therapysessions. Making art as a group encourages healthy competition and stimulates intriguing discussions. 

 

4. Art Promotes Brain Activity

 

Studies have shown that it increases cognitive performance in older persons in the same way that puzzles and brain exercises do. Art enhances symbolic thinking, the process of finding meaning in pictures. Instead of just observing art, we must interpret it, which is excellent brain training.

Art is unquestionably beneficial, especially for our mental health, and it may have a significant positive impact on both our physical and emotional health.

 

References

Liebmann, M. (Ed.). (1994). Art therapy with offenders. London: J. Kingsley.
Dalley, T. (2008). Art as therapy: An introduction to the use of art as a therapeutic technique. Routledge.
Councill, T. (2003). Medical art therapy with children. Handbook of art therapy6, 207-219.
Junge, M. B. (2015). History of art therapy. The Wiley handbook of art therapy, 7-16.
John, P. A. S. (1986). Art education, therapeutic art, and art therapy: Some relationships. Art Education39(1), 14-16.
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