Creativity and Fitness Can Improve Your Brain

Over the years, I have taught art to students at every age level from pre-school to older adults. I love witnessing their creativity and excitement over their accomplishments. I especially like seeing the joy that art brings into their lives.

For older people, creativity provides a goal, a reason to get up in the morning and go out to an art class or head to an easel or art wall inside their own homes. The creative activity can take the form of painting, sculpture, pottery, jewelry and more. Crocheting and knitting are art-crafting endeavors enjoyed by people of all ages, especially older ones. Some studies show that crafting provides a large benefit but not quite as much as painting.

My mother loved to crochet. She would sit for hours crocheting colorful pieces that she later put together in afghans to give as gifts. Although she did not grow up in a time when physical fitness was stressed as it now is, she kept her brain healthy with the bright strands of yarn dancing on her needle.

A recent syndicated article by Leslie Mann, Tribune Newspapers, describes studies that show the value of doing artwork for people in "their middle and old ages". One Mayo Clinic study found that those who created art during those later years were "73 percent less likely to develop MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment)". (MCI is a problem that can lead to dementia.)

Because people are living longer, the 85-plus age is a fast-growing population segment. It's a group of people who can be inspired because of creative potential or they can be led into depression by those who do not understand their needs for purpose in life.

Recently, I was with a group of older people and found their main topics of conversation were about the drugs they take to control their physical ailments. My doctor wants to prescribe more drugs and is disgruntled because I believe our nation is over-medicated in many instances.

If people are encouraged to take more art classes and more art workshops, I believe they will be happier. They will have less reason for depression. They will need fewer drugs.

Artist Kendra Wadsworth inspires creativity with her abstract mixed media

Coloring books for adults and zentangles (drawing structured patterns) are new interests in our society. These are different forms of art that I suspect can help improve our brain health.

I enjoyed Mann's article which was about a study published in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Along with physical fitness, creativity can help us grow happier. We should promote that path.

Watching an Artist Explain His Painting Process

One of the things I like best about belonging to art and writing groups is the excellent programs they

Artist Christopher Wynn discusses paints ©Mary Montague Sikes

offer for members almost every month. The Virginia Romance Writers has an outstanding hands-on-event the second Saturday, and the Metropolitan Richmond Artists Association has a program on the second Saturday of each month as well. I belong to both groups, and, unfortunately,  the meetings are at the same time and usually on opposite sides of the city of Richmond. On a couple of occasions, I've talked my husband into attending the meeting of the artist group for me while I attended the writers event. However, in 2013 my personal pendulum has swung in the direction of art, so last Saturday I chose to attend the demonstration by watercolor artist Christopher Wynn at the MRAA meeting.

Drawing of a rusty truck on 300# Arches paper

Although I am not a big fan of watercolor paintings of old trucks and cars, I am a fan of the ones that Wynn creates. They are striking works of art that stand out in shows in a very poetic way. For his demo, Wynn brought in a photograph he took of a rusty old truck. This is a subject that fascinates him so much that he travels around looking for old vehicles to photograph and use for subjects of his future work. To save time on Saturday, Wynn had already sketched the truck on 300# Arches cold pressed paper and taped it on foam board. He also had masked a portion of the drawing.

As he worked, Wynn talked about the limited palette of colors he uses and his preference for Daniel Smith watercolors because of their more intense pigments. He also demonstrated how he creates black by mixing yellow ochre and cobalt blue, then adding "a touch" of alizarin crimson.
For Wynn, "the essence of watercolor is the fewest brushstrokes you can use."

For the audience of artists, it was a joy to watch Wynn work and explain his process.

Christopher Wynn working ©Mary Montague Sikes