29 Jul No Van Gogh, Not a Scant of Rembrandt

Art and Stress Reduction

I’m no Van Gogh, not even a scant of Rembrandt, but find that taking the time do work on a little art project really makes a difference in my stress level.  Stress hormones are reduced among anybody engaged in an artistic pursuit, and it can be as simple as doodling or as complex as portraiture.  Some recent studies even suggest that one’s level of prior experience does not affect the general outcome: reduced stress hormones in the body.  That’s good news!  This means we can all benefit almost equally from a little artistic respite in the day.  Setting aside a little time every couple of days can be a remarkable refresh.  I try to take at least an hour a day to work out something artistic.  In this clip I’m working on encaustic art.  It helps to have friends who can teach me about the processes of creating such works.  Of course, being in San Miguel de Allende, there are ample opportunities and many fascinating artists to lend that hand!