For an artist, five minutes can be more than enough time. It's just enough to pause from the constant flow of information on our tiny screens, and rediscover the beauty in the world around us. To cultivate creativity, artists see potential in everyday things – a sentence that can become a paragraph, or a tube of paint that can become an image.
A 2024 study by the UK government revealed a wealth of evidence that consuming art can greatly benefit our mental and physical health. In fact, it's not just the act of consuming art, but also the process itself, that has a profound impact on us. For instance, witnessing paintings in person has been shown to reduce stress levels, with one study finding a 22% decrease in cortisol levels among participants who viewed original artwork compared to those who viewed copies.
As someone who has always found inspiration in the words of creative people, I've compiled 366 short passages of wisdom from artists like Ali Smith and Tracey Emin, into a new book called "How to Live an Artful Life". These entries include reflections, rituals, encouragements, and creative exercises that guide readers through the seasons, helping them tap into their own creativity.
The power of art lies not just in its ability to enrich our lives, but also in its capacity to bring us together. Museums, for example, have historically been places for dialogue, debate, community, and connection. As art critic Jerry Saltz advises, engaging with others about the artwork can be a powerful starting point for ideas.
In a world where AI is increasingly outsourcing our creativity, the importance of human ingenuity cannot be overstated. Artists like Laurie Anderson remind us that doing nothing – or sitting still – can be the start of something new and beautiful. By taking back our attention and giving it to each other, we can rediscover the joys of making, learning, and living life on our own terms.
So, how can you incorporate art into your daily life? Try revisiting a single painting at different moments, noticing how it changes depending on your mood. Look up something in a book or online, show it to someone else, and ask them what they think it is. Or, simply take a moment to appreciate the beauty around you – whether that's a sunset, a work of art, or a good cup of coffee.
In short, an "artful life" doesn't have to mean being an artist. It's about enriching what you already have, and finding joy in the everyday moments. As Paula Rego once said to her son, Nick Willing: "An artist is someone who goes to a place where no one's ever been before, but brings back something you've never seen but instantly recognise." By embracing this spirit of curiosity and creativity, we can live life on our own terms – artfully.
A 2024 study by the UK government revealed a wealth of evidence that consuming art can greatly benefit our mental and physical health. In fact, it's not just the act of consuming art, but also the process itself, that has a profound impact on us. For instance, witnessing paintings in person has been shown to reduce stress levels, with one study finding a 22% decrease in cortisol levels among participants who viewed original artwork compared to those who viewed copies.
As someone who has always found inspiration in the words of creative people, I've compiled 366 short passages of wisdom from artists like Ali Smith and Tracey Emin, into a new book called "How to Live an Artful Life". These entries include reflections, rituals, encouragements, and creative exercises that guide readers through the seasons, helping them tap into their own creativity.
The power of art lies not just in its ability to enrich our lives, but also in its capacity to bring us together. Museums, for example, have historically been places for dialogue, debate, community, and connection. As art critic Jerry Saltz advises, engaging with others about the artwork can be a powerful starting point for ideas.
In a world where AI is increasingly outsourcing our creativity, the importance of human ingenuity cannot be overstated. Artists like Laurie Anderson remind us that doing nothing – or sitting still – can be the start of something new and beautiful. By taking back our attention and giving it to each other, we can rediscover the joys of making, learning, and living life on our own terms.
So, how can you incorporate art into your daily life? Try revisiting a single painting at different moments, noticing how it changes depending on your mood. Look up something in a book or online, show it to someone else, and ask them what they think it is. Or, simply take a moment to appreciate the beauty around you – whether that's a sunset, a work of art, or a good cup of coffee.
In short, an "artful life" doesn't have to mean being an artist. It's about enriching what you already have, and finding joy in the everyday moments. As Paula Rego once said to her son, Nick Willing: "An artist is someone who goes to a place where no one's ever been before, but brings back something you've never seen but instantly recognise." By embracing this spirit of curiosity and creativity, we can live life on our own terms – artfully.
... 5 minutes in front of a canvas or a painting isn't exactly the same as putting in actual work hours to hone your craft, you know? it's easy to say "just be inspired by everyday things" but what about when you're struggling to come up with anything new? i mean, i love art and all, but sometimes it feels like we're just pretending that creativity is some kind of effortless thing 
it's not just about consuming art but also the process that matters like one study showed 22% less stress when viewing original artwork 
and museums r places 4 dialogue & community 
i'm all about taking back our attention & giving it to each other 
we need human ingenuity rn especially w/ AI outsourcing creativity 
artists remind us doing nothing can lead 2 something new & beautiful 
so incorporate art into ur daily life like revisit a painting, show someone what u think of it or just appreciate the beauty around u 
️
And what's with the obsession with cortisol levels? Like, who even measures that stuff anymore? 
I'm all about findin' beauty in the little things 
, like a sunset 
or a nice cuppa 
, it can even help with stress levels 
! I've got this new book "How to Live an Artful Life" 
and it's all about findin' inspiration in the world around us 
. AI might be doin' some of our creative thinkin', but we gotta keep human ingenuity alive 
. That's what it's all about, livin' life on your own terms 
. And yeah, gettin together to talk about art is def a great way to spark some new ideas 
We need to take back our time and focus on the world around us. It's not just about consuming art, but also about creating something new.
i think its so cool how art can bring us together & help us tap into our own creativity 
it feels like were living in a world where everyone's always staring at their screens & forgetting about the beauty around them 
we need more people to take back control of our attention & find joy in everyday moments 
artists remind us that even doin nothin' can be a new thing 
. A 22% decrease in cortisol levels is no joke - I need something like that in my life right now, stat 
. The idea that watching original artwork can do that is actually kinda cool, but let's be real, who has time to visit museums and galleries when there's Netflix to binge 
? At least this book "How to Live an Artful Life" sounds interesting... a collection of 366 passages from artists? That's like having a constant conversation with creative people in my head 
. It's like, we're always connected to something but sometimes we forget to connect with ourselves and nature too 
. And art is such a great way to do that - whether it's just looking at a painting or creating something yourself 
. So let's all try to make time for art in our lives, whether that's reading a book, visiting a museum, or just taking a moment to appreciate a beautiful sunset 
. And I think that's so important in a world where we're always staring at screens and getting lost in our own thoughts 
. And I love that artists are reminding us that sometimes just doing nothing can lead to something amazing 
. Its not always about creating something new, its just about being present in the moment 
.
! I mean, have you guys noticed how people are always talking about the benefits of taking a break from social media? Like, 5 whole minutes without scrolling through your feeds is just enough to get those creative juices flowing again 
. No need to be some kind of artistic genius to live an "artful life" - just be you and appreciate the little things 
. I'm all for innovation and progress, but what happens when we rely too heavily on machines to do everything for us? Don't we want to keep some human touch in the mix? It's like they're saying that if we just watch enough art, we'll magically become more creative and innovative ourselves. Sorry, doesn't quite work that way 
.
. What about those who can't afford a good cup of coffee, let alone a sunset view? It's all well and good, but we gotta think about accessibility too 
. And, as long as we're not outsourcing our creativity to AI, there's still room for human ingenuity in this world 
I mean, have you ever just sat in a museum gallery and watched people's reactions to a piece? It's like this weird beautiful energy 
And I love the idea of making art into your daily life – not having to be some kind of Picasso or whatever. Just finding joy in little things, like a sunset or a good cuppa 