Art and mental health have more in common than you might expect.

Think about what happens when you open up a journal or grab a paintbrush. Regardless of what you create, something else is always created in that moment too — space. Space to think. Breathing room. Calm.

Creating isn’t a magic cure for mental illness, but it’s certainly something. For whatever reason, art gives the mind room to breathe. And science is starting to catch up with what artists have known for centuries.

Not only is regular creative activity good for emotional wellbeing — it’s one of the most accessible interventions available for some relief. All it takes is 15 minutes and something to make.

Here’s what’s covered:

• Why does creative practice impact the mind?
• The research: What happens in the brain?
• Art’s 6 specific benefits for emotional wellbeing
• Who can art help? (Spoiler: it’s a lot of people)
• How to get started (& you don’t need to be an artist!)

Why Does Creative Practice Impact the Mind?

Creative activities are synonymous with fun and self-care. It’s nice to create. But that mindset minimises how powerful art really can be when you dig into the neuroscience behind it.

Learning why how art can impact mental health goes beyond mood is fascinating. Making art engages areas of the brain associated with emotion regulation, problem-solving, and yes, feelings of reward. Throw those together and you’ve got a perfect recipe for why art can be so therapeutic.

…it doesn’t matter if you’re conventionally creative.

All of these benefits happen regardless of how “good” you are at art. No, really. You don’t have to be an artist to feel these effects.

One study out of Drexel University found that 75% of participants had reduced cortisol levels after creating art for just 45 minutes. That’s the stress hormone. Making art helped lower their physiological stress.

What Happens in the Brain During Creative Activity

Creating artwork signals the brain to slip into a “flow state.”

Essentially, the entire mind shifts.

Flow states activate every part of the brain responsible for focus, emotional control, and processing what the senses are experiencing. It forces the brain to settle down and let go of distractions:

• Stress hormones decrease
• Dopamine increases
• Negative self-talk disappears

Speaking of dopamine, it’s everywhere when engaging in creative activity. Dopamine is the “feel good” neurotransmitter that reinforces behavior by giving a little reward. Think of it as the brain’s way of giving a pat on the back.

Art gives the brain plenty of reasons to do that patting. Whether the end result is something to be proud of or not, artmaking still punches those dopamine releases.

Who doesn’t want that?

6 Benefits of Art for Emotional Wellbeing

Here’s the breakdown of what happens when you create:

1. Stress and Anxiety Reduction Simple artmaking lowers cortisol levels and reported stress. A 2023 APA poll surveyed over 2,000 adults and found 46% of Americans use creative activities to cope with stress and anxiety.

2. Mood Improvement The art-making process tells the brain to release feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. Creating gives the brain a chance to exercise that reward system. Like any other muscle, the more it’s used, the better it works.

3. Emotional Processing Some emotions just can’t be articulated. Instead of trying to force explanation, art provides the tools to let emotions out. Painting, sculpting, journaling, and other activities all offer unique opportunities to work through emotions without any pressure.

4. Self-Esteem Completing something created gives the brain positive feedback. Something was made from nothing. This seemingly simple task has proven benefits. One study published in Arts & Health showed 79% of participants experienced boosts in self-esteem after art therapy sessions — for anyone who participated, not just “artists.”

5. PTSD Symptom Relief Journaling, colouring, crafting, and other forms of artistic expression can also help with PTSD symptoms. In fact, art therapy was found to reduce PTSD symptoms in 68% of trauma survivors who participated. Folks of all backgrounds reported improvement.

6. Mindfulness Creating artwork keeps the mind in the present. It’s hard to channel anxious thoughts about the past or future when focused on mixing paint colours. The art creation process allows the mind to focus, which pushes out negative thoughts.

Who Benefits From Creative Practice?

If you’ve made it this far, you might already be thinking:

Who doesn’t?

Art helps people of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. But there are some communities that tend to see bigger improvements from artmaking:

• Working professionals dealing with burnout or stress
• Kids and teenagers dealing with emotional challenges
• Older adults experiencing memory loss
• Cancer patients processing distress and quality of life
• Trauma survivors who have PTSD

There’s even evidence showing arts therapy can improve quality of life for patients during cancer treatment.

While not every study agrees on every specific benefit of art therapy, they all tend to point back to using creative practices as a coping mechanism for stress.

Can Art Really Help With Depression?

Absolutely.

One review paper published by Oxford University Press found enough evidence linking art to reduced depression symptoms to warrant further large-scale studies on creative practice as a complementary treatment.

Art is not just “fun” and “relaxing.” When you make art, the brain is forced to pay attention and stay present. Leave your anxieties at the door, pick up a paintbrush.

How to Get Started (& You Don’t Have to Be an Artist!)

Here’s the kicker that stops most people before they start:

The belief that you have to be good at it to receive the benefits.

No one is policing your art.

The studies referenced in this article did not exclude certain skill levels. Children, professional artists, non-artists — anyone can benefit from picking up a paintbrush and just creating. The inner critic does not negate art’s mood-boosting and stress-relieving properties.

Getting started is easy:

• Pick up a sketchbook and doodle
• Buy the cheapest watercolour set you can find
• Journal for 10 minutes each day
• Learn how to pot with a local class
• Try photography, knitting, or any number of crafts

There are no wrong answers here. Art is about the process, not the end result.

Give It a Try

Art isn’t going to solve all of life’s problems. But it can help start dealing with them.

Creating gives the brain an opportunity to pause and reset. With stress and anxiety at an all-time high, more tools for mental relief are always worth having. Science says art might be one of the easiest places to start.

All it takes is a pencil and 45 minutes.

Doodle. Paint. Write. Create something.

Because creating something is more than enough reason.