Special Report
Digging Deeper with Art
Summary
Through our distinctive approach, Art4Healing encourages individual self-healing and mental wellness. Separate from traditional art practices, Art4Healing encourages personal and emotional self-exploration.
Introduction
Art4Healing’s approach is deeply woven into the fabric of this year’s Special Report. We encourage the uniqueness of each individual’s journey with art, motivating participants to self-express with abstract colors.
This special report illustrates our commitment to guiding personal connections with art. Our method encourages participants to surpass surface-level creation and delve deeper. By highlighting transformative testimonials and showcasing fundamental mental health principles, we emphasize the unique aspects of our method to promote self-discovery and self-healing.
The Intersection of Art and Mental Health
The intersection of art and mental health is a captivating concept where creativity and self-healing intertwine. Countless research studies have delved into the transformative power of art, revealing its profound impact on mental well-being. Let’s explore some of these studies that highlight the positive benefits of therapeutic art and its ability to stimulate emotional expression, reduce stress, and support mental wellness. Through these examples, we’ll observe the remarkable potential of art that can aid in healing, uplifting the human spirit.
Emotional Expression and Stress Reduction
The intersection between art and mental health unveils the capability of creative engagement to serve as a conduit for expressing emotions such as stress. Within this realm, contemporary research offers compelling evidence that underscores the thesis of Art4Healing: that art can influence mental wellness through its therapeutic potential.
Studies on Engaging in the Arts for Stress Reduction
A foundational pillar supporting our understanding comes from the Mental Health Foundation (Mental Health Foundation, 2019), which observes, “Engaging in the arts can help alleviate anxiety, depression, and stress, while boosting confidence and resilience.” This 2019 assertion not only highlights the therapeutic value of art in supporting common mental health challenges but also accents its role in fostering wellness.
Complementing this perspective, a study conducted at Drexel University (Kaimal, 2020) lends significant weight to the argument. The investigation revealed that individuals working with an art therapist experienced notable reductions in stress levels, evidenced by lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their saliva. Furthermore, participants reported enhancements in mood and self-efficacy, illustrating the direct impact of art on emotional well-being. As the study elucidates, “These positive effects were observed across various art mediums, including collage, colored pencils, markers, modeling clay, and even virtual reality.”
Art4Healing Connection
By encouraging individuals to dive into the creative process, Art4Healing provides a space where emotions can be safely explored and expressed. This personalized journey of discovery and expression through art not only aids in stress reduction but also empowers participants with a sense of resilience and emotional clarity.
Mental Health Challenges and Well-Being Improvement
The journey through the therapeutic process of art unveils its capacity to not only address mental health challenges but also enhance overall well-being. The latest research echoes this narrative, presenting a clear picture of art’s role in cultivating a healthier mental state.
Studies on Improving Mental Health Through Art Engagement
UK studies (Tymoszuk, et al., 2021) on art and well-being provide insightful data, stating, “People who frequently engage in arts have lower levels of mental distress and higher levels of mental functioning and life satisfaction.” This direct quote underscores the tangible benefits of regular artistic engagement, illustrating a significant correlation between art activities and improved mental health.
A deeper dive into the effects of art on well-being is encapsulated in a 2020 study (Wang, Mak, & Fancourt, 2020), which observed, “Significantly lower levels of mental distress were found amongst those who participated in arts activities more than once a week.” This finding not only reinforces the value of consistent art engagement but also highlights its potential as a preventive measure against mental health challenges.
Art4Healing Connection
The Art4Healing method aligns with these findings by offering avenues for frequent engagement with art, enabling participants to tap into its therapeutic benefits. Through personalized expressive art workshops, individuals are guided to explore creatively, fostering an environment conducive to mental wellness and satisfaction.
Self-esteem, Confidence, and Identity
The transformative journey facilitated by art extends beyond mental wellness, reaching into the realms of self-esteem, confidence, and identity.
Studies on Art’s Influence on Personal Development
The World Health Organization’s findings (Fancourt & Finn, 2019) emphasize the developmental benefits of art, stating, “Participating in arts activities can build self-esteem, self-acceptance, confidence, and self-worth, which all help to protect against mental illness.” This underscores the significant role art plays in strengthening an individual’s sense of self and contributing to a resilient mental health foundation.
Adding to this perspective, another study in 2018 (Tomlinson, 2018) highlights, “Visual arts participation can reduce reported levels of depression and anxiety, increase self-respect, self-worth, and self-esteem, encourage re-engagement with the wider social world, and support a potential renegotiation of identity through art-making.” These findings demonstrate art’s therapeutic value as a tool for personal growth and reconnection with society.
New research from the Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning, and Education (CANDLE) introduces a novel aspect of adolescent development: transcendent thinking. (Dolan, 2024) The study suggests, “Adolescents’ proclivity to engage with transcendent thinking predicts key, large-scale brain networks’ increasing interconnectivity over time and that this neural development is, in turn, associated with personal and social well-being in young adulthood.” This form of abstract reasoning about one’s place in the world and larger systems at play supports enhanced brain connectivity and well-being, showcasing another dimension through which art and creative expression can influence identity and self-understanding.
Art4Healing Connection
Art4Healing’s workshops are intricately designed to focus on expressive healing art exercises using abstract colors on canvas.
By providing a space for individuals to explore their identities and express themselves through art, these workshops encourage healing and personal empowerment. This process not only aids in emotional healing but also empowers participants to view themselves and their capacities in a new light, which can foster a renewed sense of self-worth and confidence.
Art’s Role in Trauma, Healing, and PTSD
Art’s efficacy extends into the delicate area of trauma healing and management of PTSD, offering a gentle yet powerful means of processing and recovery.
Studies on Healing Trauma Through Art
The Smithsonian Magazine (Kuta, 2021) brings to light the role of art in addressing trauma, stating, “Art therapy has been linked with reduced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among specific populations.” This emphasizes art’s capacity to mitigate the symptoms of trauma, providing a non-verbal outlet for expression and self-investigation.
In alignment with this, the American Psychiatric Association in 2020 found, “Art therapy is a potentially low-risk and high-benefit intervention to minimize symptoms and maximize functioning in individuals living with serious mental illness.” (American Psychiatric Associaiton, 2020) This affirmation of art therapy’s value in the context of serious mental conditions further substantiates its role in trauma healing and enhancing life quality.
Art4Healing Connection
Art4Healing leverages the healing power of therapeutic art to offer a possible path forward for those affected by trauma. By facilitating therapeutic art sessions, participants are given the tools to articulate their experiences, fostering a healing process that words alone cannot achieve.
Impact of Personalized Art Expression on Mental Health
Art4Healing offers a distinct approach to mental health support through its innovative and personalized therapeutic art methods.
Across the varied landscapes of emotional expression, mental wellness, personal development, and trauma healing, the power of art emerges as a beacon of hope and transformation. The studies and research highlighted in this report not only affirm Art4Healing’s foundational principles but also showcase the expansive potential of art to touch lives, mend spirits, and cultivate a deeper connection to the self.
Drawing on recent research studies, Art4Healing has demonstrated its effectiveness in mental well-being by encouraging a sense of self-awareness and self-discovery. The transformative power of Art4Healing lies in its ability to guide participants, helping them explore and express themselves in a safe space for personal growth and self-healing.
Through expressive abstract art, Art4Healing enables participants to explore their life journey and gain a deeper understanding of themselves. By engaging in the creative process, individuals can experience a release and gain a renewed sense of self.
As one participant shared, “Art4Healing has helped me overcome and acknowledge feelings I didn’t know I had. I’ve learned that painting helps so much with understanding myself.”
For individuals facing various challenges, studies have revealed that therapeutic art opportunities, such as those offered by Art4Healing, can lead to improved health and feelings of wellbeing. Participants have reported feeling calmer, more relaxed, and filled with hope and joy after engaging in Art4Healing workshops.
Art4Healing has also contributed to supporting individuals who have experienced trauma. By providing a creative outlet, therapeutic art has been shown to reduce trauma symptoms, particularly in individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants have expressed how Art4Healing has helped them express emotions, find calmness, and develop a sense of resilience.
Art4Healing distinguishes itself from traditional art therapy with its focus on personal expression and self-exploration. Unlike conventional methods where therapists may direct the session and interpret the art, Art4Healing empowers participants to lead their own journey, with facilitators serving as supportive guides. This approach promotes empowerment, self-discovery, and personal growth by offering a safe space for individuals to express themselves freely and achieve self-awareness through art.
Voices of Transformation: Testimonials and Case Studies
Testimonials and case studies further highlight the profound impact of Art4Healing in empowering individuals to navigate their mental health journey and find a renewed sense of wellbeing. With its innovative and self-investigative approach, Art4Healing is at the forefront of using art as a powerful tool for mental health transformation.
Testimonials - Emotional Expression and Stress Reduction
“Art4healing for me it’s like writing in a journal but with colors and textures on a canvas. This process has truly changed how I perceive the world differently and, most importantly, how I see myself.” – Wendy J., Art4Healing International Certification Graduate
“This class helped me see that although some darkness surrounds me, I have much light and hope. I’m finding by being in this class, I’m less tightly wound, able to laugh at myself a bit more, and reach out. I love the outlet to express emotions in this fashion.” – Senior Citizen Workshop Participant
“I deal with a lot of stress and depression because of different situations I’m going through at this point in my life. So this allows me to release my anxiety and sadness.” – Adult Workshop Participant
Testimonials - Mental Distress and Well-being Improvement
“This class helps me a lot with my depression. It lets me put my feelings down on the canvas instead of talking about it. This class has taught me so much about art and color, so I’d just like to say thank you.” – Troubled Teen Workshop Participant
“This class was very therapeutic. Art is very healing and frees the soul and gets feelings out into canvas. This is a great activity for adults in recovery.” – Men’s Recovery Group Workshop Participant
“I have attended several Art4Healing workshops and they have all been GREAT! They are fun, relaxing, enlightening, and totally cathartic. Don’t worry if you’re not an artist–it’s like going back to preschool, just having fun with colors. I always learn something new about myself, and leave feeling so much better. Try this unique experience and see for yourself!” – Workshop Participant and Volunteer
Testimonials - Self-esteem, Confidence, and Identity
I allowed myself to have feelings again, not bury and ignore them. I could express myself in a non-pressured way and now I understand my peers’ feelings better.” – Wounded Warriors Participant
“The instructor is so vibrant and expressive. There is a lot of intercommunication with peers and I feel like I’ve grown from when I started. I really value the medium.” – Senior Citizen Participant
“This process was totally awesome. I didn’t know at first why I was putting certain colors down, but then when I looked at my painting afterwards the tears just started coming and I understood both the pain and the hope I have.” – Domestic Violence Shelter Participant
Testimonials - Art’s Role in Trauma, Healing, and PTSD
“This opportunity truly helps some of us experiencing PTSD to get feelings out in a judgment-free zone. Much appreciated!” – Camp Pendleton Workshop Participant
“Even if I can’t verbally share and express what’s happening in my life, this class jumpstarts the process of me connecting and expressing difficult emotions.” – Camp Pendleton Marine Base Workshop Participant
“Art4Healing helps make me self-reflect. Each time that I come is a different experience and I never leave with a bad time or disappointed. It helps me deal with my emotions and it’s something I appreciate.” – Wounded Warrior Battalion Workshop Participant
Looking Ahead: The Future of Art and Mental Health
Expanding the Reach of Art4Healing
Art4Healing fine-tunes its transformative workshops for educational systems, enriching school experiences with the power of expressive art. By incorporating Art4Healing into schools, we can encourage resilience among students, fostering a safe space for self-expression and healing. Drawing from past initiatives and research on art’s impact on adolescents’ brain connectivity and well-being, Art4Healing offers tools to help enhance emotional well-being.
Moreover, Art4Healing exemplifies its commitment to expanding its reach through the Art4Healing International Certification Program. This program trains facilitators to deliver the transformative Art4Healing workshops with expertise and compassion, ensuring that the healing power of art is effectively shared with individuals in need. By equipping facilitators with the necessary skills and knowledge, Art4Healing extends its impact beyond traditional boundaries, empowering more individuals to embark on their personal healing journey through art.
The Future of Self-Expression and Healing
Looking ahead, Art4Healing envisions a future where therapeutic art experiences are available to anyone. By harnessing technology and data-driven insights, Art4Healing continues to expand and evolve workshops and sessions, amplifying the therapeutic impact and encouraging deeper self-discovery and healing.
In the landscape of self-expression through art, Art4Healing stands out. Our mission statement emphasizes the vital role of Art4Healing in supporting mental wellness, highlighting the transformative power of art in healing individuals and communities.
Our Founder's Story
We’ve discussed the need for mental health tools to combat the decline in adolescent mental health. We’ve also shown how Art4Healing can help teens express their feelings. Now, read the story of the Founder behind the method, Laurie Zagon, and the impact that creating therapeutic, abstract art has had on her life. Here’s Laurie’s path to mental health by using art as a coping mechanism from the age of 8.
In Laurie’s words:
Growing up in Queens, New York had its challenges. We lived in Flushing, Queens. Both parents worked; My Dad was a Liquor Salesman and returned home at 10pm every day. He was intoxicated when he arrived home each night. He would have his last 2 shots of whiskey and pass out in the living room club chair.
My Mother was an admin assistant for an airline and loved her job, but she was always screaming and yelling at my Dad, sister, and me when she was home. She had a temper and if we said something she believed was wrong, it resulted in her slapping and hitting us. She clearly was not happy with her life. She often spoke about having married the wrong man.
My parents created such a toxic environment that I remember suicidal thoughts as early as eight years old. I thought about cutting my wrists but was too scared to cut myself. I also remember banging my head against the wall in my bedroom out of frustration. There was a lack of love and care in my family. The verbal barrages were constant, as was the out-of-control anger. I dreamt of leaving the house to get away from it all.
To escape, every day I would go down to the basement and spend most of my time after school and through the evening with art supplies given to me by my uncle. When I first received oil paints and canvases from my uncle, without any training, I painted my first painting. The theme was me collecting tickets at a movie theater. My uncle told me I was a good artist, and his words encouraged me. I was an artist if someone said I was an artist!
When I descended to the basement, my world expanded. I was now saying things with art to express myself. I made drawings and created little books that reflected happily ever after endings. Art became my coping mechanism and started me on my road to mental health.
Laurie Zagon
As I got older, I enjoyed the art classes in junior high with a great teacher. Mrs. P introduced me to many different mediums: drawing, printmaking, painting, and sculpture. Art was my friend and confidant. When I was ready for high school, I was accepted into the High School of Art & Design in Manhattan.
I had to take a bus and a train from Queens to Manhattan every day to get to school. I didn’t mind at all since it took me away from the unhappiness and despair I felt at home. The people, theatre, galleries, museums, and the sights and smells of the city were a catalyst for my art.
When I graduated High School, I was accepted to the Maryland Institute of Art, in Baltimore, on a scholarship. I was out of my house and a new chapter in my life had begun. From there I was given a full fine arts fellowship to Syracuse University and began as a graduate student/ art instructor for freshmen at the university as well.
When I graduated, I moved back to New York to begin my career as a fine artist and to teach painting, design, and color theory classes at the City University of New York. I married my boyfriend; two artists together were not a great match. I went to therapy as a result. It was a great help speaking with a professional who could help someone like me sort out my anger. Ultimately, it became clear that my husband and I were not good together, and we eventually divorced.
I met with my therapist for an hour and a half a week. It cost half my salary, but I didn’t care. I knew I needed help! Between the counseling and creating giant colorful abstract paintings on canvas, my thoughts became more and more positive. The therapy helped me to reconcile my past and my art. It also helped me work through my unhealthy coping mechanisms, which were drug use and food addiction. Finally, the art and therapy opened me to a spiritual path that has always kept me focused and grateful to God for the gift of art.
I created Art4Healing workshops for children, teens, and adults that struggle with all types of mental health issues. Now, I teach others the language of color and painting on canvas as a way to give pain a voice. My previous, negative life experiences have transformed into a way for me to bless others.
Just as my uncle gave me my first art supplies when I was 8 years old, I am able to give out thousands of art supplies to disadvantaged children and teens. To-date, Art and Creativity for Healing workshops have allowed over 90,000 participants to experience what I have. I hope I’ve given many the tools for a new creative direction in their life.
Additional Resources
Pre-Recorded Workshops
We have 35 courses available online! Relax and experience the Art & Creativity for Healing method in the comfort of your own space. All courses are only $29! Check out our course list and introduction video from Laurie here:
Online Courses: https://courses.art4healing.org/
Workshops
We offer a variety of live, online workshops via Zoom, as well as studio workshops! Visit our website for frequently asked workshop questions and our upcoming workshop calendar:
Workshop FAQ’s: https://art4healing.org/faq
Workshop Calendar: https://art4healing.org/calendar/
Program Outcomes and Past Special Reports
We engage an outside party to help us compile Outcome Data for all of our Programs. We encourage you to visit our Results page, where you can view Outcome Data. We also have prior Special Reports available for you to review!
Results: https://www.art4healingorg/results/
Art4Healing International Certification Program Online
Can’t make it to our studio? We are proud to offer the only globally recognized Art4Healing Certification, exclusively available online.
To become certified online, students experience and complete Art4Healing workshops and assignments through an online platform within a timeline of 9 months (or less). Students are matched with an Art4Healing Coach who will answer questions and review his/her assignments and facilitated workshops.
Find out more about this exclusive program here:
International Certification Online:
https://art4healing.org/international-certification/
Painting Your Heart Out, by Laurie Zagon
Read the inspiring account of how Laurie Zagon started Art & Creativity for Healing, a Southern California non-profit organization that provides fine art workshops for children, teens, and adults suffering from abuse, illness, grief, or stress.
Learn from former students about the extraordinary impact that Art & Creativity for Healing has had on their lives. Art4Healing Painting Your Heart Out is a non-threatening method that enables people who cannot draw a straight line to become successful in expressing their feelings through art. The creative process used in this book encourages participants to paint using abstract strokes of color on canvas to translate life’s everyday stresses.
Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Healing-Painting-Your-Heart/dp/1517072247/
Works Cited
American Psychiatric Associaiton. (2020, January 30). Healing Through Art. Retrieved from American Psychiatric Association: https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/healing-through-art
Dolan, E. W. (2024, March). Transcendent thinking in teens: A pathway to enhanced brain connectivity and well-being, study suggests. Retrieved from PsyPost: https://www.psypost.org/transcendent-thinking-in-teens-a-pathway-to-enhanced-brain-connectivity-and-well-being-study-suggests/
Fancourt, D., & Finn, S. (2019, November). What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? Retrieved from World Health Organization: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/329834/9789289054553-eng.pdf
Kaimal, G. (2020, July). How Art Can Heal. Retrieved from American Scientist: https://www.americanscientist.org/article/how-art-can-heal
Kuta, S. (2021, July 11). How Making Art Helps Improve Mental Health. Retrieved from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/can-art-therapy-help-patients-deal-with-mental-health-struggles-during-the-pandemic-180980310/
Mental Health Foundation. (2019, Jun 25). How arts can help improve your mental health. Retrieved from Mental Health Foundation: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/blogs/how-arts-can-help-improve-your-mental-health
Tomlinson, A. (2018, January). Visual Art and Mental Health. Retrieved from What Works Wellbeing: Tomlinson, A. (2018, January). Visual Art and Mental Health. London: What Works Centre for Wellbeing. Retrieved from What Works Wellbeing: https://whatworkswellbeing.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Full-report-art-mental-health-wellbeing-Jan2018_0146725200
Tymoszuk, U., Spiro, N., Perkins, R., Mason-Bertrand, A., Gee, K., & Williamon , A. (2021, March 12). Arts engagement trends in the United Kingdom and their mental and social wellbeing implications: HEartS Survey. Retrieved from PLOS One: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0246078
Wang, S., Mak, H., & Fancourt, D. (2020, February 11). Arts, mental distress, mental health functioning & life satisfaction: fixed-effects analyses of a nationally-representative panel study. Retrieved from National Library of Medicine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32046670/
Want More Information?
We’d love to hear from you today. We’re standing by to speak with you one-on-one about the power of healing art!