Evidence in neuroscience shows us there are plenty of advantages from experiencing art. Whether you are engaging in the creative act itself or observing a piece of art, art has got the power to improve our brain function at different levels. When we observe art, the stimulation that art provides us with, helps our brain develop new neural pathways. When we create art, we connect with the creator within ourselves and we express our emotions in a way that words might not be able to do. Apart from raising our serotonin levels, art helps us sharpen our observational skills and our memory and therefore impacts on brain plasticity.
Art also helps us enter a reflective mental space that can enhance our understanding of ourselves and our connection to our external environment. It is therefore clear that art brings us pleasure and also encourages you see our world in completely new ways. In order to inspire others to become creative, I have presented below some art that I myself created throughout the years. Each picture is accompanied by some description that tells you a little bit about the painter whom I got inspired by to create each art piece.
This painting that I did was inspired by Claude Monet's Woman with a Parasol. Monet created the original in 1875 that now hangs in the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. Monet was a French Impressionist who was inspired by nature and did a lot of outdoor paintings. Woman with a Parasol presents Madame Monet and their son.
This art piece that I did was inspired by Rafael's Parnassus that was shown in 1509/10 within the Stanza della Signature in the Palazzo Vaticano in Rome. Rafael was a painter during the Renaissance period who is presenting in Parnassus the nine muses and those writers that were inspired by them. The artist himself was greatly inspired by Michelangelo's sculptures and Leonardo da Vinci's paintings.
This is an original painting that I created and that was presented at the 'All Of Our Own Work' exhibition in 2014 by Brunel Arts. This is the first time I used oil to create a floral illustration. The difference in quality between the two flowers is noticeable: I painted the flower in the background by looking at the flowers before me, while the flower at the front was created when I didn't have the flowers with me.
This is another original, that I did which is supposed to depict a scene from Ancient Rome with all of its contrasts. It attempts to illustrate the ancient Romans' taste of aesthetics and architecture and reflect the values of their society. This particular art piece emphasises the importance of perspective where the centre of the picture is in the middle of the main building at the back.
This was my first go at illustrating the dynamic atmosphere that could be sensed when looking at the weather before the rain falls. It could therefore be construed as portraying the ethereal realm, giving it a dreamy feel.
I hope your brain enjoyed the presented art and it inspired you to pick up the painting brush or go and visit an art gallery and start engaging with art, no matter if you choose to do so as an artist or an observer.
