Art has been used as a form of individual expression for tens of thousands of years. Whether it be visual arts such as photography or painting, hands-on activities like crocheting or music, and even hobbies like soap-making, art is often used as a way to relax. Many art students and faculty also find that creating art enhances mindfulness.

Art provides many people with a mental break in the midst of their busy lives. Studio art student Penelope Thornton ’27 said, “I do art as a break between my other work. It’s very therapeutic. Because it’s so creative and meditative, you have so much freedom to express yourself.”

Ms. Terri Moore, director of studio art, describes how art allows her to “be completely present.” She said, “In art, one must be both deeply engaged in detail and aware of the greater composition. This shifting awareness is what gives art its meditative quality; it asks the artist to move between close attention and broad perception.”

However, this state of focus is not always peaceful. “Creating art is not always ‘unicorns and rainbows,’” said Ms. Moore. “The process of creating can be frustrating and emotionally difficult, especially when the work confronts personal themes. Yet this struggle is a part of the process. Just as traditional meditation involves sitting with uncomfortable thoughts, art often requires the artist to face internal tension or uncertainty.”

Arthur Peng ’28, a ceramics student, sees art as an engaging process, which brings a sense of achievement from hard work. “I’m very focused and I try to put 100% of my effort into creating the piece. Beyond that, it’s the amount of time that I put into a piece that makes me happy.”

While art doesn’t always resemble traditional forms of meditation, it achieves a similar outcome: a sense of deeper awareness. As Ms. Moore said, “it is about quieting all other ideas and noise and letting the creative reaction and response take center stage.” With that focus, art becomes more than an academic subject or a hobby.

As students move quickly between academic, social, and extracurricular demands, art offers a space for focus and mental clarity. Whether through painting, drawing, or sculpting, art offers students moments of calm and a deliberate practice in the midst of a busy schedule. It provides an opportunity to quiet the mind and enter a state of full concentration and presence.