Art & Your Mood

If you know me on a personal level, you know I am one moody girl. I mean mooooody.

Let’s talk about how art can set, change and improve our moods.

The Mood-Art Connection

The Power of Visual Stimuli

Art has a unique ability to influence our emotions through visual stimulation. We know that colors change our emotions really rapidly. I recently went to an exhibit at the Nature and Science museum with my nephew all about colors, and walking into each color’s room gave me an intense, and variable emotional experience.

We also have reactions to different shapes, tones, degrees of chaos or calm. We are constantly reacting to visual stimuli. It takes an observant mind and body to note how this changes our mood though. Start to record and observe it! Not just in art either, but everywhere.

If you really want to dive into the psychology of art, I recommend the book Your Brain on Art

Creating a Positive Art Environment

Curating a Mood-Boosting Collection

One of the powers of an art collection is its ability to speak directly to our needs. If something is perpetually out of balance for you, an intentionally curated collection of art can help create balance.

Lighting and display also play a role on your mood. They go hand in hand when it comes to displaying your collection for maximum visual impact. Again, take into account your own mood disorders and imbalances. What are your triggers? What counters it? How can you place art in a way that it’s visible in the places you most need it. Ahem, office art….

Engaging with Art for Mood Enhancement

Mindful Art Appreciation

There are so many practices and techniques you can employ to cultivate mindfulness and intention when looking at art. I love these practices. Make your own up though! Think about what actually works for you. Some people hate breathing exercises. Fine, don’t do them! Write stream-of-consciousness instead. Or make lists of your visual observations and bodily responses.

Connect pieces to your own life experiences or personal challenges. Explore the art as if it was creating specifically for your mood. What is it telling you? How can it help you?

Art and Music Pairing

I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s a super cool exercise. Pick a song that evokes the mood you are in, or the mood you want to shift into, and stand in front of a piece of art for the duration of it, just observing, learning, watching, wondering.

Art and Affirmations

I’m not really an affirmation person, but you could be!! If you don’t want to just sit and chant them, or write them over and over, set a timer, study a piece of art while repeating your affirmation to yourself.

By curating a mood-boosting art collection and engaging in reflective art practices, you can unlock the transformative potential of art on your well-being.

Ready to embark on your own art-inspired mood enhancement journey?

Get in touch with me to learn how you can build out an art collection that offers therapeutic benefits.