Engaging in simple visual art activities, even for less than an hour, has been linked to measurable reductions in stress hormones. In one study, adults who spent 45 minutes making art showed significant decreases in cortisol, a key stress marker, regardless of their art experience level. Participants also described the process as relaxing, freeing, and helpful for self-discovery. Translation: you don’t have to be an “artist” to benefit. Your brain and body respond to the act of creating, not the