Your Brain on Art- Day 26

 If you are hesitant to create art because of your drawing skills or lack of, I highly recommend trying collage. It’s a fun way to create without the pressure involved in other mediums. 

Collage involves cutting, selecting, and arranging material in an eye-pleasing way. This contributes to eye-hand coordination and is a non-verbal way of self-expression. It also stimulates the central nervous system. 

It includes things like planning which materials to use, making decisions about where to place materials, and critical thinking.

It combines elements of art like line, color, texture, shape, and composition. The brain is challenged to problem solve as you design your collage. 

As with all art there is definitely a degree of relaxation and stress relief. Especially since there really is no way to fail at this. It’s a safe way to express emotions and has a therapeutic effect. 

It’s a fun way to meet with friends and spend time creating together. This social interaction is especially important for seniors and healthier aging. 

Another benefit is the sense of accomplishment in the finished product. Often we talk about process over product, but in the case of collage it’s hard to go wrong with either. 

According to Artful Aging: 6 Ways Collage Art Benefits Senior Living Communities, “Collage art offers a unique blend of creativity and relaxation, making it an ideal activity for senior living communities.”

I started a collage book back in 2011. I used a spiral bound sketch book and have been creating collages over the year. It’s been fun to look back at past creations, and having them in a bound notebook makes it easy to store them. 

If you’ve been hesitant to start an art practice, you can’t go wrong with collage. If you’ve got an old magazine, you can start today.

  

Your Brain on Art- Day 25

 

One of my favorite crafts is rock painting. When Chuck and I lived in the apartment, we enjoyed painting smooth rocks, which we would leave around the lake or drop off at coworkers' desks. 

As you’ve probably already figured out, pretty much all of these art activities contribute to a more relaxed state of mind. 

Painting activates the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for creating memories and learning. We always enjoyed sharing the rocks in hopes that they might boost someone’s mood when they discovered them. 

We’ve also put them in flower beds and have painted rocks with our grandsons. 

Rock painting is a fun way to express your creativity. You can find all kinds of different ideas on the internet and many of them are quite simple. 

We have used craft paint, and special paint markers to make our designs. We finish them off with a coat of Mod Podge. 

Increased empathy is one unique benefit to rock painting. In sharing your creations you can bring joy to others. 

Have you ever painted rocks?

Your Brain on Art- Day 24

 I’m getting ready to start a new craft that caught my eye on Instagram. It seems that air-dry clay is all the rage now. 

I’ve gathered my supplies and basically need to find an open block of time to try it out. If you are interested in working with this medium you need the following supplies:

Air dry clay (available at Walmart or Hobby Lobby)

Something to cut your clay with ( cookie cutter, biscuit cutter, or a butter knife)

Paint

Paintbrushes

Decorative napkins

Mod Podge or Acrylic Sealer

Cookie press for design making(optional)

The tactile nature of clay benefits the brain. The act of kneading, squeezing, or pounding can actually be cathartic. 

It helps with mood, mindfulness, motor skills, and cognition. 

Considering this is the first time for me to work with this type of clay, the neuroplasticity of my brain will come in handy. I’ll be making new neural pathways.

My focus and concentration will be enhanced, problem-solving will improve, blood flow to the brain will increase, and it will be a creative outlet for me. 

If you are interested in learning more, check out Pinterest for ideas. YouTube can show you how it’s done, and Instagram is a fun place to watch others create. 

Your Brain on Art- Day 23

 Have you ever heard of junk journaling? It is a “creative and eco-friendly style of journaling that uses repurposed materials like old magazines, tickets, fabric scraps, and receipts to create a personal and eclectic journal.”

If you want to give it a try you need to start by collecting everyday found materials which you may have considered throwing away. Along with this include ephemera such as any printed pieces of memorabilia that you’d like to hold onto. 

I also use scrapbooking paper, greeting cards, candy wrappers, and pretty much anything else that catches my eye and can be easily glued down onto paper. 

Half the fun of creating a junk journal is collecting the materials. If you go to YouTube you can find lots of ideas for how to make your own journals out of old books or even cereal box covers.

There is no real right or wrong here and it’s fun to experiment with color, texture, and design. No drawing required! 

As with all art activities the benefits are relaxation and self-expression. A woman in my community makes simple junk journals which she sells at our local Market Day. They are beautifully done and can be used as a personal writing journal. 

Your journals can be used to document important events in your life. Think about scrapbooking, but with a lot less effort. 

It’s also a way to reuse things that would probably just end up in a landfill. Once you start collecting you will begin to notice the beauty in so many everyday things that come your way.

Of course, this is a great way for self-expression at a budget-friendly cost, because you probably already have these materials at home. 

The other day I was about to throw out an empty movie-size box of Skittles when the color red caught my eye. I cut off one panel and am going to add it to a collection of other red materials I’ve saved. I think it will make a perfect page for my junk journal. 

Does this sound like anything you’d be interested in trying?

Your Brain on Art- Day 22

 “Art is any form of creative expression that allows us to communicate, reflect, and connect with the world.”  Diya Jaiswal

According to Diya Jaiswal in her posting Art and the Aging Brain, “Research shows that engaging with art can help keep the brain sharp, improve emotional well-being, and enhance overall quality of life.”

Jaiswal points out that just because we are aging doesn’t mean we are declining in our ability to be creative. If anything it’s a time to pursue new artistic passions. 

The following are some of the benefits art provides for the aging brain:

Enhanced Cognitive Function:

Because participation in the arts engages several areas of the brain it results in improved memory, problem solving, and attention span. 

Reduces Stress and Promotes Emotional Well-being:

Art is not just about skill, rather it has to do with self-expression. Creative activities can reduce stress and anxiety by allowing for healthy ways to process emotions.

Encourages Social Connections:

Participating in the arts provides opportunities to connect with others and build friendships. Social engagements improve overall well-being and may even reduce the risk of dementia according to some studies. 

Improve Motor Skills and Coordination:

Art forms like pottery, knitting, and playing an instrument involve fine motor skills and help with eye-hand coordination. Dance can help with coordination and balance. 

Provide a Sense of Purpose and Identity:

As we age we sometimes struggle to remain relevant. Participation in the arts can strengthen our identity. Taking on new artistic pursuits is even better. The brain wants the challenge of learning something new. 

It looks like anything that has to do with the arts is a win-win for the aging brain. 

Your Brain on Art- Day 21

“A writer, I think, is someone who pays attention to the world.”

Susan Sontag

I’ve always enjoyed writing. As a child my best friend and I loved to write stories for fun. I once began a mystery story based on my beloved Nancy Drew books. 

As a young adult, I liked to write funny stories. After I retired I began writing a blog. One Mother’s Day my daughter gifted me a Storyworth subscription.  Each week I would answer a writing prompt about my life and at the end of the year it was published into a book. 

In 2019 I wrote a children’s story based on one of my favorite students. 

This past spring I joined a writers’ group where we meet weekly on Zoom to share our writing. I was able to revise and edit my children’s book and begin a new writing project. 

I’m writing a dual timeline, historical fiction novel based on a true event in Texas during WWII. I am having so much fun, and I’m learning every day. 

If you’ve ever even considered writing, but have been hesitant to do so I highly recommend giving it a go. If you can join a group even better. 

According to How Art Affects the Brain posted by CLRN, “Writing enhances language, improves cognitive function, increases empathy, and has the potential for cognitive reserve.”

The other exciting part of writing is connecting with other writers. Recently I attended a writing workshop at a local library. I learned quite a bit and met other aspiring and published authors. 

If you aren’t sure where to start I recommend creating your own blog. You can do this for free on Blogger.com. It’s an easy set-up and includes templates for your background. I usually write my blog in Notes on my iPad and then copy and paste it into Blogger. You can also download photos from your camera roll. 

Also, Storyworth is a great way to get started and end up with a published piece. Check out storyworth.com.

Do you enjoy writing? I’d be more than happy to encourage you and share what I’m learning.

Your Brain on Art- Day 20

 “Once you have three of something, you’re a collector.”

(A popular rule of thumb)

According to Psychology Today, “The process of collecting activates a variety of brain networks that are vital to creativity…tying into the brain’s structured design for creativity.”

I’ve been a collector since childhood. I remember collecting toads as pets one summer. I made them a home in an old Lance Peanut jar from my neighbor’s gas station. 

Over the years I’ve collected all sorts of things. And over the years I’ve let collections go when they didn’t suit me anymore.

Today my collections include books, Balleek china, chickens, bluebirds, Longaberger baskets, Golden Books, souvenir thimbles, tiny vintage animal vases made in Japan, cookbooks, art supplies, pottery from places I’ve visited, James Avery jewelry, and Hummel figurines. 

Even my Pinterest collection and Home Screen on my iPad are a collection of everything I want to learn more about. 

As I researched the brain I learned that collecting has cognitive, psychological, and neurological benefits. 

Collecting cognitively stimulates the brain through things like planning, research, and categorization. It can contribute to learning and mastery of a subject of interest. 

Psychologically it influences novelty which results in that hit of dopamine that emerges when you discover the perfect next piece for your collection. Sometimes the hunt and acquisition are more exciting than actually owning the treasure. 

It also contributes to a need for control and structure, and is a way to express your individuality. 

Neurologically, collecting ties into the pre-frontal cortex of the brain where decision making and impulse control reside. When there is dysfunction in this part of the brain it can cross over into compulsive hoarding. 

Collecting gives a dopamine rush to the brain which is part of its reward pathways. Psychology Todaystates, “Your brain rewards you for novelty, especially novelty that matches your taste.” 

I know for me I can walk through an antique shop or thrift store and nothing may catch my eye. But once something does I’m generally drawn back to it to decide if I want to keep it. It is pretty exciting when you find the perfect addition to your collection. 

“If you’ve  ever looked at a curio cabinet stuffed with antiques…and thought, ‘Yes, this is my aesthetic,’ you’ve experienced the brain’s creativity engine at work.” Psychology Today. 

What do you enjoy collecting?