Why Drawing Is Good for Your Brain | Sketchbook Skool (2024)

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Why Drawing Is Good for Your Brain | Sketchbook Skool? ›

Reasons why drawing is good for your mind

Drawing increases many of the cognitive functions that researches typically label as the 'creative' and 'right brained' activities. Intuition increases. Produces positive brain chemistry like Serotonin, Endorphins, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine.

A sketching habit strengthens fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. New pathways form and, according to studies, increase blood flow to the reward center in your brain. You are training your eyes to deliver visual information to your brain, which, in turn, communicates with your hand.

Although drawing is not commonly thought of as a manifestation of intelligence, it is in fact an intellectual exercise that allows an individual to use visualization as a way to understand and project concepts— apprehension.

Why Artists Have More Gray Matter in Their Brains. According to the results, those who were better at drawing had a larger amount of gray and white matter in the cerebellum and supplementary motor area – both hugely important for fine motor control and carrying out routine, procedural memory actions.

So when we draw, we encode the memory in a very rich way, layering together the visual memory of the image, the kinesthetic memory of our hand drawing the image, and the semantic memory that is invoked when we engage in meaning-making.

There is increasing evidence in rehabilitation medicine and the field of neuroscience that art enhances brain function by impacting brain wave patterns, emotions, and the nervous system. Art can also raise serotonin levels. These benefits don't just come from making art, they also occur by experiencing art.

Drawing — and other forms of art — can help you release stress and anxiety. You can draw at home to boost your imagination and creativity, be more mindful and grounded, and relieve anxious thoughts. You can also work with an art therapist to help you manage mental health conditions or trauma.

Art is a great tool for people to explore and express their emotions. Drawing can help you communicate your inner thoughts to others, not just visually, but also by giving you time to better process them. This introspection can be very healthy for growing your emotional intelligence overall.

Why is drawing such a powerful memory tool? The researchers explain that it “requires elaboration on the meaning of the term and translating the definition to a new form (a picture).” Unlike listening to a lecture or viewing an image—activities in which students passively absorb information—drawing is active.

Does drawing calm the mind? ›

Emotional regulation

“Drawing also relaxes the body, grounding you into place and helping to regulate your emotional state,” she says. “Sometimes talking about your anxiety can actually increase it. Because drawing is a non-verbal activity, it can literally give you a break from your worries.”

IT MAKES YOU HAPPY: When you draw, you release Serotonin, Endorphins, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine. You don't have to be a famous artist to draw and doodle. Drawing also has calming effects, so if you're stressed out, you may try to pick up a pencil. Read more about how drawing relieves stress.

Drawing is both a talent and a skill. Some people may have a natural aptitude or talent for drawing, which can give them a head start in learning. However, talent is not a requirement to become proficient at drawing. Drawing skills can be developed through practice, learning, and dedication.

These forces include environment, personal belief systems, contact or absorption of foreign cultures and ideas. Art educators believe artists are born and made. Artists born with artistic capabilities must be developed through training, teaching and development of interest in the arts.

“Artists have structurally different brains compared with non-artists. “Brain scans revealed that artists had increased neural matter in areas relating to fine motor movements and visual imagery. “The research, published in NeuroImage, suggests that an artist's talent could be innate.

Drawing can enhance memory and is found to be a reliable, replicable means of boosting performance. Drawing enhances the learning of individual words. Drawing improves memory by promoting the integration of the elaborative pictorial and motor codes, facilitating measurable gains in performance in aging individuals.

Drawing is an act of mediation and promotes mindfulness

Taking the time to focus on a sketch allows you to be more mindful of the world around you. Centering yourself and setting aside time with a pencil or paintbrush in hand can help you find a sense of balance in your day to day.

Why is drawing such a powerful memory tool? The researchers explain that it “requires elaboration on the meaning of the term and translating the definition to a new form (a picture).” Unlike listening to a lecture or viewing an image—activities in which students passively absorb information—drawing is active.

Not only is drawing a form of literacy, it also helps your memory! A study from Journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology found that participants that doodled were 29% more likely to remember mundane information. IT MAKES YOU HAPPY: When you draw, you release Serotonin, Endorphins, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine.

Drawing can provide you with the escapism needed to mentally remove yourself from the stress of everyday life. Releasing your daily stress through creativity is a great way to boost your mental health, as well as to help manage mental illnesses.