Art is a method of expression that people have been using since the beginning of time. Although the mediums and forms have changed, adapting to the ever-evolving cultures and lifestyles of us humans, the peace that it can bring and the community it can create has not changed.

Stress management is key to a healthy lifestyle in our modern, fast-paced lives. Although many of our normal activities have halted due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, it is still as important as ever to be able to find a source of comfort and a hobby to pass time by. Art can be, arguably, one of the best options.

This is because, not only will it help manage stress, but it can also create a community for you with others who enjoy art. You can visit art galleries for leisure, and art will also serve as an abstract form of a diary to pour your feelings into. With the world changing, and the lives we’ve known changing with it, the control we have over our canvas and the colors of the paint will give artists an outlet for their thoughts and feelings.

The community that art can provide can be through painting groups, art therapy sessions, gallery groups, or even art study groups. By forming a social circle with mutual interests, art can give a sense of community and security in these uncertain times. Again, improving mental health.

Art can also serve as a diary. This may seem far off, but it really is not. Diaries are a source for many to write their feelings, emotions, and thoughts out. Art is a form of expression in which we can convey these thoughts and emotions through the medium, canvas, size, color, and tools we use. Although diaries and writing, in general, convey specific thoughts, art has its magic in that it is up to the person who views the work to interpret it based on their current emotions.

Art can also improve self-esteem as well as self-awareness. Psychologists often use art to ponder into a patient’s unconscious mind. This can also be the same for individuals pursuing art. The pieces they create can show them their emotions and feelings while channeling it through their artwork will improve their physiological and psychological health.

Among the many people who have received help from art therapy, there is a young woman who had received chemotherapy for cancer she had been fighting for almost half her life. She has said that she was able to express her pain and hopelessness through art and that it was a major source of happiness through her journey. This not only represents the power that art can have in an individual’s life but it also shows how sometimes, it is the little things that matter.

Sophia Lee

Buford HS / 11th Grade

<Sophia Lee Buford HS / 11th Grade>