Art is a great way to relieve the tensions of the day. Whether it is drawing, painting, or sculpting, the benefits of art are widespread. Art classes at West are a great way to de-stress and relax.

The benefits of art on mental health are well documented. Art therapy is a new and emerging type of therapy that has been proven to be beneficial for people, especially children who may have trouble expressing themselves through words. In fact, although arts therapy has been used clinically for more than a century, it has been recognized as a profession since only 1991.

Anyone can benefit from art therapy. Art Therapists can analyze your art and can tell you things about certain aspects of yourself that maybe you didn’t know existed. A study by Heather L. Stuckey, DEd and corresponding author and Jeremy Nobel, MD, MPH, has seen positive outcomes for the potential of using art to promote healing in their four primary areas of focus.

Students at West love the art classes. “Art helps me relax after a stressful day,” a freshman at West expresses. Noble Rivera, a sophomore currently taking commercial art at West says, “I really enjoy sitting and working on my current project. It is really relaxing and almost therapeutic.” Bridget Myer, a senior at West says, “The type of music I am listening to shows how I am feeling at the moment.”

The effects of art are just beginning to be documented and studied by scientists. Art classes at West are a great way to reap the benefits of art.