So, you may be wondering why after 3 whole years of business we have suddenly decided to start writing a blog? We feel like after 3 years we’ve got a lot of stuff we want to talk about with you and so much stuff that we’ve learnt that you could find useful. Now, you can check in with us every month and see just what we have to say and and to show you. As we are closed at the shop on a Monday what better day to post our blog entries so you don’t miss us!
Here, art is our passion and seeing what comes from people’s artistic flow is great. The google definition of art therapy is ‘a form of psychotherapy involving the encouragement of free self expression through painting, drawing or modelling used as a remedial or diagnostic activity.’ We, at Busy Brush, agree that self expression is key in creating brilliant painted pottery and have noticed that our adult pizza and paint nights have been getting increasingly popular with people getting more in touch with their artistic side. Whether it is for someone to come and sit quietly on their own, socialise with their friends, or come as a team building programme for their work.
We believe the main reason for the increased interest in art in general is because art of any sort can be a wonderful stress reliever and is really useful as a type of therapy. It involves letting yourself relax, giving in to your creative flow and even taking your mind off the little things that could be bothering you, without you even noticing! https://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-clear/make-more-art-the-health-benefits-of-creativity_b_8868802.html?guccounter=1
Anyway, here’s an article from the Huffington Post outlining what health professionals think visual art does to improve hospital patients mental wellbeing, and then what physical results have also been recorded from other studies.
Not only are there proven improvements in people from art in general, but community art is essential in the community spirit and keeping the neighbourhood happy. It can be anything from a small book reading/ review writing club with a group friends/mums from school to a whole community creating a collective mural for the town to enjoy. It links people together, giving people something to look forward to, or even something just to get involved with. Many people use it to make friends, find people with like minded interests or to just get out the house! For example, pottery painting doesn’t have to just be done in the shop with us, we have done mobile pottery with the local WI group, and in october an adult paint your own pumpkin decoration and in december will be hosting a paint your own christmas decoration, both at Cornerstones in Didcot.
The friendship aspect of art as therapy is definitely not essential but it can be so beneficial for people, especially elderly people. The creative engagement alone can boost brain function, especially raising serotonin levels. If art can help initially increase social and emotional development in life then it will certainly keep that social/emotional aspect healthier in elderly people. https://www.healing-power-of-art.org/art-and-the-brain/
So, it really doesn’t matter if you consider yourself creative or not, just the act of having a go and joining in can bring so many benefits into your life. What are you waiting for?
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