Top 5 Reasons Being an Artist Is Cool
Being creative is cooler than you think. Here is why…
#1 Artists Have Enhanced Perception
Did you know that one of the most famous American psychics, Ingo Swann, was an artist? Ingo Swann was a famous remote viewer at the Stanford Research Institute in the 1970s. During this time, Swann demonstrated what he called “exteriorization” — the ability to mentally perceive distant places or objects. These experiments later became known as remote viewing.
All people have psychic abilities, but artists naturally have a keen sense for perceiving things on subtle levels. VEREVIO, a tool designed to train extrasensory perception, is safe to explore. It gives real-time session prompts, statistics to rely on, and instant feedback if you want to make sure of it yourself.
There is an explanation to that. Scientific research suggests artists show three forms of emotional and cognitive flexibility.
First, artists are able to access deep feelings and memories stored in the unconscious. These internal experiences can become a source of creative ideas and emotional expression.
Second, artists can shift between different modes of perception. They are able to move between noticing the physical-sensory qualities of a scene — such as color, light, and shape — and recognizing the objects those qualities form. This ability allows them to view the world from a different perspective.
Third, observations suggest that artists can quickly shift between seeing the world in three dimensions and representing it in two dimensions. When drawing or painting, they learn to separate perception from action — what psychologists describe as “seeing as” and “seeing that.” This skill allows artists to transform what they perceive into a concrete visual form.
We all knew it but now we finally admit it.
#2 Artists Feel Less Stressed
Spending a little time being creative can actually calm your body.
Researchers from the American Psychological Association report that chronic stress is linked to heart disease, weakened immunity, sleep disorders, and depression.
A study published in Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association found that creative activities can significantly reduce stress levels.
In the experiment, participants spent 45 minutes drawing, painting, or working with clay. Before and after the session, researchers measured their cortisol levels — the hormone associated with stress.
The results were clear.
After the creative session, about 75% of participants showed lower cortisol levels.
#3 Artists Are Happy
Your brain reacts to creativity in a powerful way.
Neuroscientists from University College London studied what happens in the brain when people create or experience art.
Using brain imaging technology, they discovered that creative activity activates the brain’s reward system, the same network that responds to enjoyable experiences like music, laughter, or delicious food.
When people create art, the brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, motivation, and emotional balance.
Creative work does not only express emotions — it also changes brain chemistry.
That is why many people feel calmer, lighter, and more focused after drawing, painting, writing, or playing music.
Even short creative sessions can shift the brain from a stress-driven state into a more balanced one.
#4 Artists Are Mentally Agile
Psychologists call this skill cognitive flexibility, the ability to switch perspectives, adapt to new information, and generate multiple solutions to a problem. It is considered one of the key components of intelligence and innovation.
Research supports this idea.
A well-known study from Michigan State University, published in 2008, examined the backgrounds of Nobel Prize–winning scientists. The researchers discovered that these top scientists were far more likely to practice artistic hobbies — such as music, painting, writing, or acting — than their peers who had not won major scientific awards.
In fact, Nobel laureates were:
- 17 times more likely to be painters
- 12 times more likely to write poetry
- 4 times more likely to be musicians
The researchers concluded that artistic practice helps develop creative thinking skills that transfer into scientific discovery and problem solving.
Other neuroscience studies also show that creative activities stimulate communication between different brain regions, strengthening connections between analytical and imaginative thinking.
In simple terms, art teaches your brain to explore possibilities instead of looking for only one correct answer.
#5 Artists Are More Healthy
A randomized controlled study published in the journal Trials found that art therapy significantly improved cognitive performance, including memory and attention, in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Participants who regularly engaged in art activities showed measurable improvements in neurocognitive tests compared with those who did not participate in creative sessions.
Another study in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society found that people who participated in structured art programs experienced improvements in working memory and immediate recall, along with measurable changes in brain structure. Researchers observed increased cortical thickness in brain regions associated with memory processing, suggesting that creative activity can promote neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to form new neural connections.
In simple terms, making art acts like exercise for the brain.