Creativity, Art, and Nature: Returning to the Heart of Being Human

Since the first handprints appeared on cave walls between 40,000 and 60,000 years ago¹, humans have felt the urge to create. Whether through song, sculpture, dance or literature, we’ve used art to explore our inner worlds, connect with one another, and make sense of the world around us. Art is not merely a pastime; it’s fundamental to our biology and our humanity. From the earliest cave paintings to contemporary art. Art is in our nature.

Art is in our DNA

Engaging in artistic activities stimulates various areas of the brain, enhancing emotional resilience and cognitive function. Research² indicates that creative tasks activate the hippocampal cortex, increasing alpha and theta brain waves associated with deep relaxation and memory retrieval.

Another study³ published in Frontiers in Psychology found that engaging in just 45 minutes of creative activity significantly reduced participants’ cortisol levels (the stress hormone), regardless of their artistic experience or skill.

Neuroscience shows that both creating and observing art activates the brain’s reward systems, particularly the release of dopamine⁴, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and motivation. Art also engages the default mode network, which is involved in memory, self-reflection, and envisioning the future. Engaging in creative acts can reduce cortisol (the stress hormone), enhance cognitive flexibility, and even help regulate emotions—benefits that mirror those we receive when we spend time in natural places.

I recently attended a local acrylic painting class where we painted tulips to celebrate the beginning of spring. It had been years since I’d picked up a paintbrush for an artistic reason (and not DIY for our never ending house rennovations). The experience definitely made me feel relaxed and grounded. And, it reignited my love for painting.

In one of my latest reads; Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, authors Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross explore how artistic expression re-wires our brains, stating, “The arts create new neural pathways and strengthen existing ones. They help us imagine, innovate, and make sense of our experiences.”​

Inspired by Nature

It’s no coincidence that much of early human art was inspired by the natural world. From ancient rock art depicting wild animals to traditional songs celebrating the cycles of the seasons, humans have long turned to nature as both muse and teacher.

Spending time in natural settings not only offer wisdom and fuels creativity but also has therapeutic benefits. Practices like forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, have been shown to reduce stress and improve mood.

I experienced forest bathing in 2023 with a small group of women, led by Sonya Dibbin, founder of Adore Your Outdoors. Before then, I’d never contemplated nature so calmly or carefully for an extended period of time. The experience for me was really profound. I wrote about the experience in a blog, that you can read here.

Forest Bathing: An evening in an ancient woodland

Nature and art share a remarkable power: both invite us into presence. When you gaze at a tree canopy shifting in the wind, or lose yourself in the brushstrokes of a painting, something inside slows down. This stillness – the kind that fosters introspection, awe, and connectedness is deeply healing.

In fact, studies have shown that spending time in nature enhances creativity. A 2012 study from the University of Utah and the University of Kansas found that participants who immersed themselves in nature for four days showed a 50% boost in creative problem-solving abilities. Nature restores our attention, quiets mental chatter, and encourages the kind of open thinking essential for creativity.

On a recent walk in the New Forest, I encountered a sign prompting visitors to take a moment for mindfullness, with an invitation to write a poem inspired by their surroundings. A lovely idea from Foresty England, to encourage visitors to really bring themselves into the present moment. Why not try this for yourself when you’re next out for a walk?

To Create is to Remember Who We Are

In our busy lives, it’s easy to sideline creative endeavors. However, making time for art can be a profound act of self-care. Elizabeth Gilbert, in Big Magic, writes, “A creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life.”​ This is one of my all time favourite books. I was lucky enough to watch her talk at the Guildhall in Southampton in 2024. After the event, I felt completely in awe of her. I think she is brilliant.

2025 has been a turning point for me becoming my most authentic self. Part of that involves having a depper respect for my own need to create and prioritsing time for that. If I don’t it leads to feelings of incompeletness and unfullfillment. And so to honour my creative needs, I’ve scheduled a few half days off work over the remaining months of this year, purely to dedicate to creative pursuits, and I’m so excited about it!

Similarly, Robin Wall Kimmerer, in Braiding Sweetgrass, emphasizes the importance of reciprocity with the natural world: “Paying attention is a form of reciprocity with the living world, receiving the gifts with open eyes and open heart.” The natural world not only provides us with physical gifts in the forms of delicious fruits or perfect blooms; It gifts us with knowledge, wisdom and inspiration, if we are simply open to recieve them. Braiding Sweetgrass is another truly beautiful book with such an important message, that I couldn’t put down.

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Thank you for reading, have a beautiful day.

~ Faine

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References

1. Cave handprints: A red hand stencil in Maltravieso Cave, Cáceres, Spain has been dated to over 60,000 years ago, making it the oldest known cave painting. This artwork is attributed to Neanderthals, indicating that they engaged in symbolic art before the arrival of modern humans in Europe. A hand stencil in Leang Timpuseng Cave, Sulawesi, Indonesia, has been dated to at least 40,000 years ago. This discovery suggests that the tradition of creating hand stencils was widespread and not limited to Europe.
2. Study: Supporting youth mental health with arts-based strategies: a global perspective.
3. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology in 2024 investigated the effects of art-making activities—such as painting, clay work, and handicrafts—on stress levels among college students. The findings indicated that students who participated in these creative activities experienced significant reductions in stress perception and tension compared to those who did not engage in art-making.​
4. A study conducted by researchers at Drexel University found that engaging in art-making activities—such as doodling, coloring, and free drawing—significantly increased blood flow to the medial prefrontal cortex, a region associated with the brain’s reward system. This suggests that creating art can stimulate the release of dopamine, enhancing feelings of pleasure and motivation.

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