ART AND YOUR BRAIN

Painting with encaustic-a medium that fuses pigmented wax with flame is more than a creative act. It is a process of uniting individual brushstrokes into a cohesive whole, much like how our thoughts and experiences form the brushstrokes of our mind. In neuroscience, there is a phrase: "neurons that fire together, wire together." Every experience we have, every thought we think, creates patterns in the brain that shape how we feel, respond and perceive the world.

Art has a powerful influence on these patterns. Studies show that engaging with art, whether through creating or viewing can enhance brain function by increasing dopamine and serotonin, the very chemicals that help regulate the mood, reduce stress, and support emotional resilience.

For me, marrying music and painting is deeply therapeutic. It's a form of a visual journaling, an emotional release and a way to process what weighs heavy on my heart. Much like a jazz musician improvises to express what words cannot, I use the rhythm of colour, texture, form and flame to speak from the subconscious.

But this isn't just about the artist. As a viewer, admirer, or collector of art, your brain responds too. When you connect with a piece-when something in it moves you-blood flow to your brain increases in areas associated with pleasure and emotion. It's the same neural activity triggered when gazing at a loved one.

So the next time you look at a painting you love, remember: you are not just enjoying a beautiful moment. Your whole body, mind, heart and nervous system is reaping the benefits of that experience.