Painting is not only a generally enjoyable activity, but it is incredibly beneficial for your mental health and well-being. The psychological benefits are amazing, although you may not notice them even while painting.
Painting is one of the forms of culture that has been the foundation of human civilization.Traces of cave painting date back to prehistoric times, the oldest being found in the Grotte Chauvet, Lascaux Cave, both in France, and in Altamira Cave, Spain. Over time, painting has had a ritualic, religious, aesthetic, and educational role, substituting the formative function of books.
Painting helps to develop visual-spatial intelligence
Painting, unlike photographic art, involves the immortalization of human reality specific to each field of activity and it also expresses personal perspectives on understanding reality. Photography involves a very fast process, but the time dedicated to a painting is longer, which offers the painter the chance to develop long-term creativity.
Creativity develops the ability to think images in an original and expressive way, by learning skills and techniques of artistic expression. That is why painting is addressed especially to children, from the first years of life. It facilitates the process of memorizing information, learning to write faster by coordinating between the hand and the brain and making connections with the environment much easier.
Painting improves memory and concentration
Your brain works every time you paint, which means that painting improves memory and strengthens the mind. In particular, painters use the parts of the brain responsible for memory and concentration.
People who regularly practice creative activities such as painting are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s and dementia. So, not only does the hobby of painting arouse joy and make you feel better, but by practicing it, you also take care of your health and protect your brain functions in the long run.
Painting has a therapeutic role
Practising painting has a significant role in releasing daily stress through physical and mental relaxation. Medical studies show that painting art therapy in treating depressed or anxious patients has considerably better results. The same benefits were recorded in the cases of people who could not express themselves verbally because they suffered various traumas.
To this end, churches have a very complex iconographic ensemble, not only for its formative role or knowledge of past events but also to help relax physically and mentally. The same happens inside medical offices and especially in your own home, where there are a variety of paintings with the same role of reassurance.
Painting helps us to develop emotional intelligence
Painting helps to develop emotional intelligence due to its intra-personal dimension. A painting expresses thoughts and feelings. It is also a form of communication that helps us know ourselves, as well as understand the emotional life of other people around us.
In addition to this type of non-verbal communication, painting contributes to enriching vocabulary by using terms specific to this art.
Painting can develop communication skills
Painting helps you communicate the feelings of the outside world through the works you make. It acts as an icebreaker, giving you a common interest with thousands of other artists.
Painting develops your problem-solving skills
Although we try our best, sometimes our paintings don’t match the image we initially had in mind. Changes in light, limitations of the palette or simply lack of experience and technique means that sometimes the painting will not come to life as you expect.
While this can be frustrating and disappointing, it can, in fact, be good for you.
Unexpected results have two advantages: for a start, you will learn pretty quickly to deal with disappointment and, in time, to realize that when one door closes, another opens. You quickly learn to adapt and find creative solutions to the difficulties that painting throws in your way.