Art helps learn de-stress lessons

Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one...,��� the famous American actress Stella Adler had said this once about art. And a growing number of young people in the Pink City seem to have taken a queue from this and are now taking up art as a great stress reliever and healer.
18-year-old student Jyoti Kanota paints for an hour everyday.And it is not that she is planning to become an artist someday. What has induced her to art is its therapeutic effect. Says Jyoti, ���Art helps me let out my feelings like nothing else. The images I create on the canvas reflect my innermost feelings. I find myself at peace with my inner self and my surroundings after finishing each painting.��� Another 18-year-old student Kanika Khubani paints live models and worship scenes whenever she is too stressed out.
Artists too agree that art has great benefits in bringing down the stress levels of a person. ���Art is something which alleviates you from your situation, transcending you into a completely different world. This has a strong therapeutic effect on the mind. The experience is soothing and relaxing,��� says artist and ex-dean, Rajasthan School of Arts, Chinmay Mehta.
Artist Anshu Pawan who looks up to art as a highly placating activity shares the same view, ���Art is immensely helpful as a therapy. It is a form of catharsis. Whatever can���t be expressed though words can be beautifully expressed through art. Whatever that is hidden inside can be brought out on the canvas. I have found it very helpful in releasing pent up emotions.���
Artist Anoobhuti shares her personal experience saying, ���When I took up art, I perceived it as a great therapy. My themes usher in a happy feeling. I pick up rainbow colours, happy free flowing themes like music, which have a highly soothing and positive effect on one���s mind. My objective is that whenever someone sees my painting, a smile should light up his/her face. Don���t we experience a feeling of relief every time we say ���wow what colours���? Art is something that makes you happy and you also share the same happiness around you.���
Art is also proving a great saviour for children with special needs. Says Vimala Venkatesan, founder trustee and child guidance counsellor, of a child development centre in Jaipur, ���Drawing and painting are interesting activities which motivate children to be inquisitive enough to tackle a text book lesson. Art has helped children with learning difficulties to express themselves, relax and control their emotions. We have adopted tools like scribbling, drawing and sketching to teach a new topic whether it is math, science or social studies.
This has brought in tremendous changes in the abilities of children. Every Friday, for 40 minutes you would find our students sitting and drawing whatever interests them. These experiences develop self confidence, creativity and concentration. Teachers have also learnt through art at what pace a particular child picks up lessons.���
Agrees Rainu Singh, executive director, of another city-based NGO, where disabled children learn to express themselves through art, ���Art has been wonderful as a therapy. It���s like meditation. It stirs up the prana in your body and heals the system. There is a huge difference among children from what they were and what they are now.���
Talking about the healing impact of art therapy, Alok Tyagi, associate professor, psychiatry, SMS Medical College says that art therapy helps in reducing levels of stress among people. Since drawing enhances eye and hand coordination, it develops the skills of children with special needs too. Psychiatrists have been making use of the therapy to make diagnosis of various mental conditions. It is being used in the cases of chronic patients to divert their thought process, reduce depression and anxiety. It has been of great help to patients waiting for surgery and also post surgery.