The Healing Power of Art

Art is deeply healing, for both the creator and the viewer. Simply looking at artwork can reduce stress and anxiety. Taking a pause from daily tasks to enjoy nature-inspired imagery, in particular, calms the nervous system. Science even shows that engaging with art you love releases dopamine, the same “feel-good” chemical that lights up when we fall in love.

Art can also create safe, non-verbal spaces to process difficult memories or emotions, sometimes leading to true catharsis. I’ve seen this firsthand with my own work: more than once, I’ve had viewers moved to tears while standing before a piece. Those moments are both humbling and honoring, reminding me why I create, to connect deeply with others through art.

For the artist, whether beginner or professional, creative activity offers its own gifts. Making art lowers stress hormones, cultivates mindfulness, and helps redirect attention away from worries. It even builds resilience and supports brain health over time.

Some of the new artworks I’ll have with me for the Sac Open Studios Tour.

This summer, always eager for a challenge, I explored some new experimental processes: tea-toned cyanotypes with photo transfers that differ from my usual process, along with transfers on vintage book pages. The resulting images feel both familiar and fresh, and I can’t wait to share them with you.

You’ll be able to see them for the first time at Sac Open Studios, September 20–21, 10am–5pm at Studio 218 (2379 39th Street, Sacramento). I’ll be showing alongside Linda Clark Johnson and Ziva Shayna Design Company, and we’ll have plenty of studio tour guides to help you discover other artists in the area.

I’ll also be doing a live demo on Saturday from 11am–noon, where in addition to my usual process,  I’ll be adding a new layer to works in shadow boxes. These are part of a special October exhibition I’ve been invited to join, called The Art of Resistance. (More on that soon!)

Sac Open Studios is the perfect time to start your holiday shopping, or to treat yourself to the gift of hope and healing through art. And as a thank-you, I’ll be giving a small original artwork on paper with every purchase that weekend, both in person and online.

Mark your calendar, bring a friend, and join us for a weekend filled with art, connection, and inspiration.