Art is a neural workout
I find it really upsetting to hear so many of my students regain tales of their school days and a teacher that belittled their creative efforts, and in some cases told them in no uncertain terms to leave it behind and find employment in other areas. EVERYONE has the ability to be creative. EVERYONE has a story to tell. EVERYONE has a voice.
As we get older it is really important to keep our brains ability to rewire, adapt and stay sharp in tip top condition. Some resort to the Times crossword and word games but creative habits can really boost neuroplasticity, so painting, drawing, dancing or playing an instrument can be beneficial in so many ways.
This is evident to me personally (the struggle with brain fog due to depleting hormones is real!) as working through an idea from sketchbook to canvas gives me focus and forces me to answer creative quandries as I go. But it is even more prevalent in the adult group that I teach as part of Seasons Art Class, and the students that I welcome into my studio at Clonterbrook!.
The joy that art brings to the students can be measured not only in the enthusiasm in the classroom setting, but the extra curricular that has enabled them to improve their skills tenfold. The Seasons Art Class is taught over a 14 week period with the last week being an Exhibition of their work. The boost in confidence from the first week to the last week is just wonderful to see and the connections made in the classroom often continue into social gatherings beyond it.
The Seasons Art Class I teach is held in Congleton Football Club and is perfect for beginners and those who creatives that thrive on a weekly class where you make friends and catch up with old ones. You can find out more about that here.
If you are someone that wants to learn how to be looser in your artwork, think like an Abstract artist, love playing with new materials and instilling play into your process to find your style and produce authentic art, learn about the language of colour, learn about the importance of layering, or just learn how to use Acrylics then the workshops I hold at my studio in Cheshire are geared to help.
Think of art as athletics for the brain. You get a gym membership to keep physically fit so it seems logical that you exercise the grey matter to keep sharp. Every artwork raises questions which we help you find answers to. In time you will be able to answer them yourself and this is evident when you dedicate yourself to just 10 minutes sketching a day. Get a sketchbook and a 2B pencil and while the kettle boils for a cup of tea, sketch the teacup, or the kettle!
If you know of someone that you think would benefit from learning a new skill or honing an existing one Iet me know and I will point you in the right direction.
