“Art is spiritual by its nature in the same way that water by its nature is wet,” American artist Edward Knippers once said. As a believer in the power of art, I encourage others to see it for what it is: Color and art therapy: a serious and necessary component of healthcare.
It’s understandable that many people believe art has no place in healthcare for two reasons. To begin with, hospitals are not exactly creative environments. The nature of the work performed within them is straightforward and serious. Second, art sometimes falls short when compared to other commodities used in the healthcare system, such as medicine.
However, healthcare, like all other fields, is evolving. Indeed, many practitioners in the field recognize that each patient’s experience, whether positive or negative, is the sum of his interactions with the hospital’s physical and mental attributes. In other words, the hospital environment has a significant impact on eliciting emotions that either benefit and accelerate recovery or slow it down. For example, a relaxed and happy environment will benefit the patient more than one that causes discomfort or anxiety. Art is one of the most effective ways to control the mood of the room and thus the vitality of the healing process.
If you are an art curator or an artist, you must understand that art for healthcare is not the same as art for personal or commercial use. Before creating art for hospitals, you must consider several factors. Similarly, if you’re in charge of curating art for a clinic or hospital, you should know what will and won’t work before you begin.
Color Psychotherapy
Involving patients in art is another way to ensure its therapeutic Color and art therapy is a non-invasive way to influence an individual’s overall health. Art brings balance to the body, according to research, and each color in the spectrum has a different energy. Chromotherapy is the process of using visible color spectrums to elicit a positive response, and it demonstrates that visible color spectrums are intrinsic to healing.
Cool colors, according to research, provide a sense of comfort and calm. Blues, indigos, and violets are examples of these colors. Blues are beneficial to the moods of people who have high blood pressure. Blue was, in fact, one of the first colors used to treat injuries and aches. During the American Civil War, Augustus Pleasonton, a militia general, wrote a book about the color blue and how it affects nature. He is widely regarded as the father of chromotherapy because he demonstrated the effect of blue wavelengths on plants.
Another color that is known for its calming properties is green. Being surrounded by greenery can help restore balance if a person is emotionally unstable.
On the other hand, if you want to stimulate yourself and boost your energy, bright colors like yellows, reds, and oranges work best.
Color and art therapy is effective because each color has its own frequency and vibration. Certain colors’ energies enter your body and activate certain processes when you look at them. These processes not only affect your emotions, but they can also aid in the healing of your body.
Healthcare Art Therapy
Involving patients in art is another way to ensure its therapeutic impact within the healthcare system. Making art is a healthy way for patients to express themselves and let go of their emotions. Many people struggle to express themselves verbally, but art can help. It is a fantastic tool for facilitating their communication.
Several studies have found that patients who create art have greater insight and comprehension. The American Art Therapy Association is a strong advocate for using art to ensure patients’ mental and physical well-being.
Mental health issues, PTSD, and eating disorders are the most common human conditions that require art therapy. Patients can come to terms with their feelings and develop coping skills through art, allowing them to not only manage but also heal their ailments.
Evidence-Based Design
Within healthcare, a more concrete branch of art known as the evidence-based design is making its rounds. It not only dispels doubts about the importance of art, but it also provides scientific evidence of its influence on humans. Evidence-based design (EBD) is frequently regarded as an extension of user-centered design, and it is based on empirical data that assist stakeholders in the healthcare industry in making decisions.
Professionals construct a building or environment to purposefully regulate outcomes in evidence-based design. This process demonstrates that the environment, including its artwork, can influence patients’ physical factors such as blood pressure and heart rates. Within regulated environments, some patients who have had heart surgeries report feeling better and having better pain control.
Nature-inspired art is popular in this field of design. The following environments can significantly improve patient well-being:
– Calm, non-turbulent waterscapes Lakes, streams, and ponds are examples of these.
– Figurative art depicting warm relationships and happy faces. This category can also include a representation of nurturing and care.
– Floral designs, especially realistic ones accompanied by other healthy greenery.
– Landscapes that represent stability, such as parks, barns, and cottages surrounded by lush green fields. Birds and frogs are examples of non-threatening animals.
We hope that reading this article about Color and art therapy has given you a better understanding of the role of art in improving patient health and their experiences in a healthcare setting. The intentional use of art within hospitals can improve the perception of their services and speed recovery.