Reduce Stress, View Art!
Viewing art can lower stress levels!
Monday was World Health Day, celebrated around the globe each year on April 7, promoting health and well-being for everyone.
Research shows that “uncertainty” and “unpredictability” can lead to unhealthy stress that is detrimental to our health. But have you noticed that amidst all the stressors of everyday living—from uncertain world events to unpredictable local weather—there are the pleasant, even predictable, constants of Spring that generally remain unchanged no matter what’s happening around us. Each year around this time, like clockwork, trees blossom (the redbuds in my region have burst forth in a gorgeous magenta), neighborhood kids rarely seen from November to March emerge from houses onto front yards, Major League Baseball season begins, rains fall, tulips open, and birds sing. And for artists, outdoor art shows begin.
Recent studies reveal that viewing paintings—just looking at art—can reduce stress levels by lowering blood pressure and even decreasing one’s heart rate. So let’s make World Health Day a reminder to get out and view some art this Spring.
My upcoming shows include:
2025 Artscape at the Dallas Arboretum | April 25-April 27 | Booth 41
Art in the Park | Columbia, MO | June 6-June 7