A part of me

As humans, we’ve been making art for 40,000 years. We’ve long been drawn to patterns, images and sounds, and modern-day studies into art and music therapy are still uncovering the myriad of ways that creative pursuits can shape our brain, body and behaviour. In other words, getting creative is good for us, and there’s a tonne of research to prove it.  

Scientists from Johns Hopkins University described music as a “total brain workout” with links to anti-ageing effects and reduction in blood pressure and anxiety. A 2017 study from The Arts in Psychotherapy journal found painting and drawing boosts blood flow to the prefrontal cortex and stimulates the reward centre of the brain, while another study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology found that doodling while listening can improve our recall by up to 29%. 

Dabbling in an art project or getting crafty with the sewing machine could also have positive offshoots in the workplace. “Creative activities make us better problem solvers across all areas of life,” says Queenstown-based workplace wellness expert Sarah McGuinness. “This seems to be especially true if your creative hobby is something very tactile like crafts. I think creative pursuits give us more energy and inspiration in life, and that feeling of having ‘more in the tank’”.  

And for those who find that 1 hour can feel like 5 minutes when they’re engrossed in their favourite pastime, it’s all down to the burst of positive hormones released in the brain when we’re focused on something we love. “That’s what we mean by the term ‘being in the flow’,” Sarah says. “It’s linked to a release of dopamine, and that has a whole range of positive effects like giving us motivation and a sense of achievement".  

“Sometimes it can be hard to reach that blissful ‘flow state’, but doing activities that get us away from technology and digital devices can help. Whatever the hobby might be, creativity is foundational for our wellbeing. It boosts the soul and gives us some healthy rest time”. 

Here, MAS Members share their thoughts on creativity and show us their workspaces where the magic happens.  

“We have so many special New Zealand artists. I really admire Stanley Palmer, Ralph Hotere and Elizabeth Thompson. For my own work, my inspirations are derelict buildings, Waikato landscapes, nature and rolling hills. I love incorporating found objects too, as I’ve long been a fan of recycling, repurposing and reinventing. I prefer works sized to allow me expression of my whole arm and body rather than the tiny detail others are so adept at. I thrive on challenges and ones that put me outside my comfort zone. I’ve gifted myself a long-held dream to be creative under the Tuscan sun. And later this year I’m actually going to do it! It’s both exciting and terrifying all at once”. 

Photo: Trefor Ward

“When your career is strictly bound by laws, regulatory requirements, expectations from clients or patients, and financial time-bound pressure, to get on a keyboard or guitar and create music feels like unlimited freedom. It’s like a different thought process, which I think is really good for mental health. 

“Over the years, I’ve come to enjoy analysing music, and I love songwriting. You have to find your own way to it, but often the songs find you too.” 

Photo: Trefor Ward