The Science of Art

“Colors have the capacity to change our respiration, our blood pressure, even our body temperature.”― Susan Magsamen, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us

“Play is a key component of the arts and aesthetics in myriad ways. Art and play are like two sides of the same coin, with play being a part of artistic expression, imagination, creativity, and curiosity.”― Susan Magsamen, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us

Outstanding podcast on making this week by Kelly Corrigan with the authors of Your Brain on Art on the science of how art heals, develops, expands and transforms us.

Get outside
Doodle, color, paint
Listen to music
Nature
Art museum
Play
Have fun
Fresh air
Colors, fragrances, light
Awaken all of your senses
Make rather than do
Build up rather than break down
Unfold rather than bind up
Breathe, in and out
There’s plenty of chaos, noise and destruction right now
Regain your footing to add and multiply rather than divide and subtract
Permission slip granted to go on a field trip daily
To be renewed, refreshed and ready to participate meaningfully rather than spectate in exhaustion
Long game, joy, resilience and grit required
Recess on

“Learning comes in many forms: cognitive, emotional, embodied. There is explicit learning, where you actively seek knowledge, and implicit learning, where you passively take in experiences that change you. Many elements go into making experiences more salient for learning, among them novelty, humor, curiosity, attention level, creativity, motivation, environment, and the unique way your brain develops.”― Susan Magsamen, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us