It might come as a surprise for artists and creative directors facing the pressure of a looming deadline, but a recent study has found that the process of making art can reduce a person’s stress levels. On top of that, it also turns out that those with zero artistic talent can benefit from picking up a pencil or paintbrush and getting creative.
Published in Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, the study headed up by Girija Kaimal, EdD traces the correlation between creating art and the release of a stress-related hormone called cortisol. The findings revealed that out of the study’s 39 participants, who each spent 45 minutes creating any art of their choice, an overwhelming 75% saw a dramatic reduction in their cortisol levels.
