Your Brain On Art

With all the talk about how ART can help your mental wellbeing, do you still wonder if ART is only for "talented" people and just not meant for people like "you" who cannot draw?

Last year I read this book, "Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us". It presents scientific evidence for how our brains and bodies transform when we participate in the arts. Not just visual art, but also dancing, expressive writing and more. Authors, Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen, share case studies from the neurosciences, psychology, public health, social sciences to prove the arts generative impact.

As this book is filled with lots of research, it can get a little dry and for a science noob like me, I sort of skimmed through it towards the end. However, here are some noteworthy excepts which will inspire you to start engaging in the arts. You can also borrow the ebook from NLB if you're interested to know more.

The Arts Activates Our Senses

You and your environment are inseparable. Your senses lay the foundation for how and why arts and aesthetics offer the perfect path to amplify your health and well-being.

The arts is so awesome, simply because it activates our senses. Recently I realise I've a super power sense of smell. Using my sense of smell, I know that the pork chops are ready to be flipped over. I can also smell things my family can't seem to smell. According to the book,

The olfactory cortex is located in the temporal lobe of your brain, which broadly affects emotions and memory. This is why smell instantaneously and potently triggers physical and mental responses in you... A single sniff or a certain perfume or cologne can bring you back to a long-forgotten relationship.

Brain And Body

Engaging in the arts is a whole body experience and our brain processes that experience.

Cognitive neuroscientists believe we're conscious of only about 5 percent of our mental activity. The rest of your experience - physically, emotionally, sensorially - lives below what you are actually thinking. Your brain is processing stimuli constantly, like a sponge, absorbing millions of sensory signals.

It's not too late to start a new hobby or habit for the year! The arts is not confined to painting or drawing, but perhaps take on the challenge of learning dancing or start a new habit of journalling? Maybe start small by making a point of singing in the shower? Have fun with the arts!

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Art for Mothers @ Safe Place

In about 4 months' time, it would be my 4th year volunteering at Safe Place. Safe Place is an organisation that empowers women and families with unsupported pregnancies to make life-giving choices. Although I go there only once a month, sometimes I would see some of the ladies there for about a year. It's a strange bittersweet feeling when I see them. I feel happy knowing that they are safe and I get to facilitate art activities for them, but at the same time, my heart aches for them because after all, it's not a 'home'.

Whenever I meet someone new at Safe Place, I always explain why I'm there. The main inspiration of why I go there every month: Making art helped me to cope with being a first-time mum, it is a form of rest while struggling with the mental and physical demands of motherhood and also a form of healing through 2 miscarriages. And I emphasise that my art sessions are not art classes, there is no right or wrong and there is no fear of making messes or messing up.

Making the Process Visible

Of course, there is always some resistance at the beginning but that is perfectly normal. Not everyone uses the paintbrush regularly and not everyone likes making mistakes. But I always wait for them to be ready and encourage them throughout the process. When it comes to art making, there is always a natural tendency to comment only about the outcome but I am mindful of making the process visible to everyone at the table, such as "It's really good progress that you made the first mark on the paper, and I know the next few marks will come to you gradually."

We go through art activities that use our five senses, we take time to explore and experiment and then we share our thoughts on the process. Sometimes when the ladies are comfortable enough, they also talk about their reflections on their lives and motherhood. I believe that the art making itself is a therapeutic process, not every activity has to end with a deep reflection, not every meaningful experience can be translated into words.

I know the ladies always appreciate my time there with them even though they don't tell me. But one day I received a message from the volunteer manager and she said,

"The girls told us that they enjoyed your art sessions a lot and asked if they can have more of your visits. In other words, they appreciate your time with them."

My hope for these mothers is that they would remember my art sessions and in their own free time or when they return home, they know they can make art for joy, make art for rest and make art for healing - making art would be a part of their everyday life.

If you would like to support the work that I do, you can either buy a product from my shop or buy me a cup of kofi.

2023 Social-emotional Learning @ TOUCH Child Care

4th year running and not a single dull moment at our Holiday Kids Process Art Workshop for the kindergarten two classes at TOUCH Childcare Hougang and TOUCH Childcare Clementi. A BIG THANK YOU to these schools for believing in the work that I do and partnering me to care for the children's mental wellbeing.

Self-Awareness and Emotions

It's always a joy to see how the children develop self-awareness through "The Apple Tree Story", talking about their strengths, limitations in the light of knowing that they are still growing and learning. And through listening to the story "I Hear You", conversations about emotions are also opened up so that children learn how to identify and name their emotions, and then tell a trusted caregiver how they feel.

Same learning, same tools and materials given but all unique artworks accompanied with wonderful sharing and reflection.

CONTACT Rebecca at cartwheelssg@gmail.com if you're interested in having creative art programmes that develop social-emotional learning skills at your school or organisation.