The Many Ways Art Can Heal
Oscar Wilde once said, “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” Art provides a way to communicate experiences when individuals lack verbal skills or when words are insufficient. Humans evolved artistic expression as an imaginative tool for adapting to changing conditions and solving problems.
Here are some of the ways that Art Can Heal:
1. Art Lowers Anxiety
Just looking at art can be healing. For centuries, many cultures have used the mandala form as a tool for contemplation and prayer—letting the mind stop on one spot while the natural forces and chaos of the world swirl around you.
2. Art Generates New Solutions
Even the simplest art, like a Japanese enso, is layered with complexity. It's like William Blake’s idea of “the world in a grain of sand.” The more you look, the more ideas reveal themselves, whether the art is simple or complex. It takes time and patience to find, examine, and consider the endless options art offers.
3. Art (Both Making It and Looking at It) Can Have a Role in Therapy
Art therapy is a modality for self-understanding, emotional change, and personal growth. Sure, focused attention on therapeutic benefits is helpful, but what about most of us who don’t ever go to an actual art therapist? Can art help us? Many artists will tell you that making art is therapeutic and calming, that it helps you calm distracting, negative, and unhelpful thoughts, and that it gets your hands and body working as opposed to only your mind.
4. Art Helps Us Deal with Difficult Realities
Poetry is consoling in times of unrest and pain, illness and grief. The poet Richard Wright wrote more than 4,000 haiku during his last year of illness in Paris. Wright’s daughter Julia said he continued “to spin these poems of light out of the gathering darkness.” Art works like that and serves like that.
This past year and a half has been realy rough on so many people in this country and around the world. Domestic violence, homelessness, depression & suicide, and much more. This is such a great time to use art for all of the benefits it provides, whether it’s for you or someone you know who’s dealing with something.
Painting For A Great Cause!
Pinot’s Palette, South Hill, is hosting a paint kit drive to benefit local non-profits throughout the rest of November and through all of December.
When you give someone the gift of a painting class, they will be so thankful for the time to just sit and create and not worry about anything else. There has been a steady increase in depression, trauma, suicide, and other mental health issues (*as well as abuse) since the beginning of the pandemic, so now, more than ever, a distraction and positive way to unwind from life’s stress is needed.
The kits will include everything needed to make the artwork, such as a canvas, paints, brushes, and of course the guided directions. This is such a simple, yet meaningful thing to give this time of year and will undoubtedly change someone’s day for the better. Thank you all so much for the support of our studio these last 2 years, as well as all of the support you have shown to local small businesses, including the non-profits who will recieve your special and thoughtful gift this season.
Choose One Of These Options:
*** NEW BEGINNINGS ***
(1) SINGLE PAINT KIT
Select this option to purchase a paint kit for the New Beginnings recipients. Don't know which one to choose? No worries! We can pick from our most popular paint kits for you, or reply to the order confirmation with your choice.
https://www....op-item/38171
(2) KIDDO & ME PAINT KIT - NEW BEGINNINGS
Select this option to purchase a Mommy & Me paint kit for New Beginnings. Don't know which one to choose? No worries! We can pick from our most popular paint kits for you, or reply to the order confirmation with your choice.
https://www....-d5eb235c4373
(3) 5 VARIETY KIT PACK - NEW BEGINNINGS
Select this option to purchase a variety pack of 5 single and Kiddo & Me paint kits for New Beginnings (5 canvases and supplies total).
https://www....-48cec4383317
**OR choose to donate funds to New Beginnings directly:
https://newb...er.com/giving
*** New Phoebe House ***
(1) SINGLE PAINT KIT - NEW PHOEBE HOUSE
Select this option to purchase a paint kit for the New Phoebe House. Don't know which one to choose? No worries! We can pick our most popular paint kit for you, or reply to the order confirmation with your choice.
https://www....-3c2c8c740a52
(2) MOMMY & ME KIT - NEW PHOEBE HOUSE
Select this option to purchase a Mommy & Me paint kit for the New Phoebe House. Don't know which one to choose? No worries! We can pick our most popular paint kit for you, or reply to the order confirmation with your choice.
https://www....-724325423aa0
(3) 5 VARIETY KIT PACK - NEW PHOEBE HOUSE
Select this option to purchase a variety pack of 5 single and Mommy & Me paint kits for the New Phoebe House (5 canvases and supplies total).
https://www....-a22dfa69cfe4
**OR choose to donate funds to New Beginnings directly:
https://www....you-can-help/
*** Helping Hands ***
(1) SINGLE PAINT KIT - HELPING HAND HOUSE
Select this option to purchase a paint kit for the Helping Hand House. Don't know which one to choose? No worries! We can pick from our most popular paint kits for you, or reply to the order confirmation with your choice.
https://www....-75f1922d451d
(2) KIDDO & ME KIT - HELPING HAND HOUSE
Select this option to purchase a Kiddo & Me paint kit for the Helping Hand House. Don't know which one to choose? No worries! We can pick our most popular paint kit for you, or reply to the order confirmation with your choice.
https://www....-39a1529b4ebc
(3) 5 VARIETY KIT PACK - HELPING HAND HOUSE
Select this option to purchase a variety pack of 5 single and Kiddo & Me paint kits for the Helping Hand House (5 canvases and supplies total).
https://www....op-item/38152
**OR choose to donate funds to New Beginnings directly:
http://helpi...se.org/donate