Art of the Spirit: Cultural Awareness and Wellness.

Artistic expressions provide visual stimulation and information, promote cultural awareness, and evoke thoughts and feelings. A very interesting component of artistic expression is the ability of the art form to produce a state of well-being in both the artist and the observer. This article (1) investigates the connection of my art to a specific purpose and fulfillment, (2) explains how artistic expressions can promote well-being through neurostimulation, (3) provides an example of how artistic expressions can assist in productivity, (4) expounds on the ability of artistic expressions to elicit cultural awareness, and (5) presents reflections on my paintings and their possible influence on an observer. The article reenforces the concept that artistic expressions extend beyond surface observation and stimulation and can penetrate the inner being and spirit of the artist and the observer, thereby affecting thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and well-being. Artistic expressions are forms of communication that can connect individuals across geographical boundaries, cultures, and time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pastoral Psychology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)