Visual arts allow you to express your ideas, emotions and perspectives through creative forms like painting, drawing, photography and sculpture. It’s also about looking at and appreciating other people’s art.
A beginner's guide to: Visual arts
art, painting, drawing, visual creativity, artistic expression
Get started with our visual arts practice instructions in our free mobile app
- • Identify focus areas for growth
- • Discover activities for improvement
- • Track and reflect on progress
- • Adjust your wellness routine
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In a hurry and don't have any questions?
Feeling artsy? Set aside some time to create something.
Decide on a medium you'd like to try out or revisit.
Gather the gear you'll need.
Find a comfortable space, set up your supplies, and get to it.
When you are ready, head to our Practice Guides and get started.
Need a hand getting started? Our app is packed with beginner-friendly Practice Instructions for every activity—and way more where that came from. Hit the button up top and get moving.
What is visual arts?
Ever felt the urge to express yourself in new and exciting ways? Visual arts might be your perfect outlet! Whether it’s painting, drawing, photography or sculpture, visual arts offer a chance to explore your creativity and share your unique perspective with the world. You don’t need to be a professional to enjoy it – just a willingness to experiment and have fun!
Engaging in visual arts can leave you feeling more connected to your thoughts and emotions, while the process itself is both challenging and fulfilling. It could also be that you take some time to watch others creating art or enjoy their finished works at galleries or exhibits. Ready to pick up a brush or camera? Let’s dive into the world of visual arts!
Why visual arts is good for you
Creating visual art sparks creativity and can help to steady your emotions. Regular artistic expression builds self-belief, enhances emotional expression and improves resilience.
Stimulates creative thinking
Focus area: Creativity (Impact rating: High)
Strengthens self-esteem
Focus area: Identity & worth (Impact rating: High)
Builds stress resistance
Focus area: Resilience (Impact rating: High)
Helps label emotions
Focus area: Emotional awareness (Impact rating: High)
Boosts sense of control
Focus area: Agency (Impact rating: Medium)
People who love visual arts
Bob Ross
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Lady Gaga
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Eric Cantona
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Real people's experiences
Starting visual arts? Read this first
The creative urge is biting, we know you’re keen to start getting some paint colours on that canvas. Before you dive in, there are a few more details that could really elevate this visual arts experience for you. Read on!
Common styles
There are many ways to explore creative outlets, from hands-on mediums like painting and sculpture to photography and appreciating art at galleries and museums.
Painting and drawing
Sculpture
Photography
Viewing art at a gallery or museum
What you might experience
🤔
"Where do I even start?"
😊
"I’m enjoying this more than I thought!"
😬
"This is interesting, it's not quite what I had in mind!"
😌
"This is more fun than I expected."
😊
"I made this!"
Try visual arts today
- • Identify focus areas for growth
- • Discover activities for improvement
- • Track and reflect on progress
- • Adjust your wellness routine
What you need to know about visual arts
Let's compare three different ways to start visual arts for the first time: self-led using online guides, in a group (IRL) and 1:1 with an Instructor (online or IRL).
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Average cost per session
Special equipment required
Potential for socialisation & community
Safety & skill building
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Unexpected advantages
Ancestry, history, facts and other trivia
Michelangelo carved the statue of David from a single block of marble that had been abandoned for 50 years.
The painting "American Gothic" by Grant Wood was inspired by a small house in Eldon, Iowa.
The largest street art mural in the world is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and measures nearly 3,000 square meters.
The term "Pop Art" was coined in the 1950s to describe a movement that used imagery from popular culture.
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4 facts
Popular memes
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14 memes
Academic research we rate
Does Coloring Reduce Anxiety? Comparing the Psychological and Psychophysiological Benefits of Coloring Versus Drawing
Turturro, N., & Drake, J. E. (2020). Does Coloring Reduce Anxiety? Comparing the Psychological and Psychophysiological Benefits of Coloring Versus Drawing. Empirical Studies of the Arts, 40(1), 3–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/0276237420923290
Task preparation as a mnemonic: The benefits of drawing (and not drawing)
Wammes, J. D., Roberts, B. R. T., & Fernandes, M. A. (2018). Task preparation as a mnemonic: The benefits of drawing (and not drawing). Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 25(6), 2365–2372. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-018-1477-y
A Comparison of the Positive Effects of Structured and Nonstructured Art Activities
Cross, G., & Brown, P. M. (2019). A Comparison of the Positive Effects of Structured and Nonstructured Art Activities. Art Therapy, 36(1), 22–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2019.1564642
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7 research pieces
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