Why Creating Art Can Be Faster Than Journaling
There are days when words feel impossibly heavy. Journaling feels like another task, sentences don’t flow, or nothing seems to capture what’s tangled inside. On those days, I turn to art. Ten minutes with pastels, paint, or markers often communicates what words cannot—allowing me to reflect, notice patterns in my emotions, and gain clarity.
Art as a tool for emotional insight
Research shows that creating art can help reduce stress. A study by Kaimal, Ray, and Muniz (2016) measured cortisol, a stress hormone, in adults before and after a 45-minute art-making session. They found that cortisol levels decreased for most participants, regardless of prior art experience. This supports what many of us intuitively know: making marks, layering colors, or simply moving our hands creatively can produce a calming effect on the nervous system.
It’s important to note that the benefit comes not from skill or producing a “perfect” piece, but from the act of creating. Art provides a nonverbal way to observe and reflect on inner states. Circular or jagged marks, bold color choices, or layered textures often reveal patterns in how we’re feeling, offering insight into our emotions in ways that words sometimes cannot.
Why creating is often faster than journaling
For people who are neurodivergent, highly creative, or simply overwhelmed, verbal processing can feel slow or cumbersome. Art bypasses that barrier. Ten minutes of mark-making can communicate more than many pages of written journaling. Research on creative engagement shows that even short, nonclinical art-making sessions can support mood regulation, self-awareness, and emotional expression (Stuckey & Nobel, 2010).
How Internal Landscapes applies this
Internal Landscapes takes these principles and makes them practical. The course guides you through short, intuitive exercises to notice patterns in your marks, colors, and shapes, and reflect on what they reveal about your inner state. You don’t need prior artistic training—what matters is showing up and observing your own expression.
The focus is on insight, awareness, and presence rather than perfection or technique. By the end of a session, you can often see patterns or shifts that were invisible before, giving you a new perspective on your thoughts, feelings, and reactions.
If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to find the words for what you’re feeling—or simply don’t have the time to journal—Internal Landscapes shows you a faster, more intuitive way to express yourself. It’s about learning your own visual language and discovering clarity, peace, and insight one mark at a time. Learn more here.
