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According to Samantha Smithstein Psy.D., "...studies suggest that art could be used, in multiple contexts, to increase the welfare, mentalhealth, and life satisfaction of the general public..."

But, I'm sure you probably already know that. After all, you subscribe to my newsletter because you love art.

There are many benefits of art, both to individuals and to society as a whole. And they come from both creating and viewing art. I will share just a few of the benefits of viewing art.

1. Pleasure - Professor Semir Zeki found that viewing art promoted an immediate surge in dopamine, the chemical in our brains that is associated with pleasure, desire, romantic love, and affection.
2. Healing - Studies suggest that hospital patients suffer less and have a quicker recovery when surrounded by art.
3. Critical Thinking - Students demonstrated improved critical thinking after visiting museums.
4. Tolerance - In the same study, the students showed greater tolerance towards those who were different than themselves.
5. Empathy - Art can also improve empathy towards others and their circumstances.
6. Ambience or Aura - Have you ever walked into a museum and felt the art before looking at any one piece? A friend of mine said that the spirit or feeling of his home completely changed when he bought original art. There is a spirit that emanates from original art. It's a quality that is intangible, yet the feeling is real and palpable.

(Sources for #1-5 in this list here and here and here).

So, there you have it. There are many valid reasons for you to add original art to your collection. Since this isn't a complete list, I'll share a few more benefits next time.