Art and the Heart: Why Creativity Matters for Well-Being

January 14, 2026

By Anne McCall Wilson

February is Heart Month and the focus is often on movement and nutrition. Creativity is good medicine too!  Studies in Neuroarts and Neuroaestetics show making art supports wellbeing – lowering cortisol (our stress hormone), calms the nervous system and supports emotional regulation – even after just 45 minutes.  As an artist and art teacher, I’ve heard it more times than I can count: “I can’t draw,” or “I’m not creative.” Even if that’s true, (and I believe everyone is an artist in some way), the good news you don’t have to be “good” at it for it to work!

Art-making isn’t about being good. It’s about showing up, getting messy, and giving yourself permission to play — especially with other people. Folks coming to my classes aren’t always trying to become great artists. What I see instead is curiosity, creativity, laughter and surprise.  Shoulders drop. Conversations spark. People really remember how much fun it is to play.   They have a sense of joy they didn’t realize they were missing.

All activities, from painting and pottery to music, photography, and playful mark-making, engages the brain in ways that help regulate stress and lights us up — especially when practiced in community. 

A study published in Art Therapy found that just 45 minutes of art-making significantly reduced cortisol, regardless of prior artistic experience. This matters because chronic stress is a major risk factor for heart disease. 

Neuroscientists now refer to this work as neuroarts, the study of how creativity and aesthetic experience shape the brain and body. In Your Brain on Art, Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross explore decades of research showing that viewing and making art literally changes neural pathways, improves mood, and supports mental health. Art, they argue, is not a luxury, but a powerful part of a healthy lifestyle.

Anjan Chatterjee outlines in The Aesthetic Brain, that experiencing art matters too. The pleasure we take in beauty — whether from a painting, a song, or a photograph — activates brain regions linked to reward and emotional balance.  Neuroaesthetics is another field that studies how art shapes our emotional and physiological responses.

In Beaufort and Port Royal, we are fortunate to have abundant opportunities to experience these benefits firsthand. With nearly 20 galleries, a lively arts district, and a growing calendar of exhibitions, classes, and festivals, creativity is woven into daily life. The artistic hub of the Freedman Arts District, the Beaufort Art Association’s downtown gallery and Spring Show, Unveiled, The Arts Port Royal’s fun classes for both seasoned artists and curious beginners are just a few of the art opportunities.    

The beauty of art is that it doesn’t require expertise. Whether you’re admiring a painting or dipping your brush into color for the first time, creativity supports our wellbeing.  I love abstract art. Studies indicate that because of its emphasis on movement, rhythm, and emotional expression, it may further stimulate neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new connections, supporting flexibility and cognitive health as we age. 

This Heart Month, consider adding art to your wellness routine. Visit a gallery, take a class, paint outside, or simply spend time with art that moves you. 

It’s good medicine for the body and the brain.

About the Author

Anne lives in the Freedman Arts District and is an abstract artist.  Her studio, McCall Wilson Arts is in Port Royal.  She teaches at The Arts Port Royal and the Freedman Arts District and is a co-owner of the Stone Wilson Gallery.