When it comes to artists taking care of their health there are many disheartening reports. As a result of creating art, many artists I know are afflicted with arthritis or joint pain. Or they have respiratory problems due to inhaling solvents. This has an impact on the type of artwork that they do and their productivity.
According to cerfplus.org, a staggering 62% of the artists surveyed perform physically challenging or laborious activities to make their art. And, 52% experience chronic lower back pain.
In this article I offer many health and wellness tips and resources for artists.
So, dive into these tips and live a long and healthy life! Also read the excellent comments below the article from artists who share their experiences, tips, and advice.
Avoid Being Sedentary!
Get Up! Move!
It’s been reported that a majority of artists spend at least 50% of their time sitting while making their art. Health experts say, long periods of sitting day-in and day-out can seriously impact your health and shorten your life. Prolonged sitting increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and more. They recommend that you stand as much as possible, while working and during leisure activities.
During the past year, I became concerned about the long hours I was spending at my computer so one of the solutions I came up with is to create a standing desk. I’m writing this article from it now. I also conduct many business calls while standing and walking around the room. Being more agile has even improved my cognitive function and energy level.
Stretch, Exercise, Increase Oxygen Intake
If you sit for long periods, either creating your art, reading, writing, checking email, or posting on social media, try this: Set a timer to ring every 40-60 minutes. I recommend that you periodically get up and stretch, dance, do aerobics, yoga, Pilates — for at least ten minutes. This exercise will increase your oxygen supply that will improve your brain activity and immune function.
Get outside and walk or jog since the Vitamin D from the sunlight will do your body good. Or, use this 10 minute break to make a healthy smoothie for yourself. Try to walk 7,000-10,000 steps a day, preferably outdoors with exposure to bright sunlight.
Open the windows to allow fresh air to circulate through your studio. Get some live plants that are known to purify the air. (I have several!)
This routine of taking breaks every hour may be challenging at first, especially if you’re deeply involved in a creative project and afraid to lose your momentum. But, think of the health issues associated with sitting for long periods of time. Aren’t you worth it?
Get Sufficient Sleep!
Many years of research have concluded that the brain needs 8 hours of sleep each night. And, the earlier you retire the better. It is advised that you get to bed no later than 11:00 PM.
It is also important to turn off all electronic devices 2 hours before bedtime. The blue light exposure has a negative impact on the body’s biological clock -— the circadian rhythm -—out of whack. Sleep suffers as a result. Research shows a connection to over exposure of the blue light and the causation of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Among the many benefits of sleeping earlier is you can enter deep sleep earlier (REM) and the glands can function at their optimum level so that toxins can be released out of the body. The medical practitioners also proclaim the hormone epithalamium that increases learning capacity can be accessed if you go to bed early. Some functions of epithalamium components include the secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland (involved in circadian rhythms) and regulation of motor pathways and emotions.
So, remember Benjamin Franklin’s quote about the importance of “early to bed and early to rise” will make us healthy, wealthy and wise! He planned his daily routine by waking up at 5 A.M. and asking himself “What good shall I do this day?”
Save Your Eyes and Hands!
Take breaks to avoid eye strain caused by excessive computer use or detailed artwork. There are exercises you can do to improve your eye sight. For example, directional eye exercises involve moving your eyes in different directions — clockwise, counterclockwise, left to right, etc. And, of course, think about Bugs Bunny, the animated cartoon character and eat plenty of carrots, a wonderful natural source of Vitamin A, which is good for your eye health.
And, if you do repetitive hand actions and clench your fist while painting or drawing, don’t forget that your hands and fingers need exercise too! Offer them periodic resting periods.
Are Your Art Materials Making You Sick?
Another good reason to get up and get fresh air has to do with the chemicals you may be inhaling from your art supplies.
On the subject of artists’ health and wellness I wrote another article.
Read “Are Your Art Materials Making You Sick?”.
In it I emphasize how important it is for artists to avoid the use of toxic materials, dangerous chemicals you should avoid, and steps you can take to avoid harming yourself.
You will also find many comments from artists who share their experiences and solutions.
Video for Artists’ Health and Wellness
CERF+ and Wellness for Makers have partnered to launch a DIY video series to promote artist health and wellness. Each video focuses on some of the common problems faced by artists with an active studio practice and includes tips that help relieve strain and reduce the risk of injury. The videos feature Missy Graff Ballone, founder of Wellness for Makers, licensed massage therapist, yoga instructor (RYT 500), and metalsmith. In each video, Missy meets an artist in their studio and offers practical self-care techniques that can be added to their daily studio routine. View them now at cerfplus.org/self-care-studio-practice
Nurture Your Inner Artist – An Inspirational Visual Reminder
Throughout your art career it’s natural for thoughts of doubt, rejection and fear to creep in and impede your creative growth. This page contains images with quotations to inspire, motivate and remind you to be positive, confident, and stay on course.
Read Nurture Your Inner Artist – An Inspirational Visual Reminder.
So, please take good care of yourself.
I wish you an abundance of good health.
Also read the excellent comments below from readers
who share their experiences and advice.
Thanks for the information.. .very helpful indeed ❤️
Thanx for this Renee !!! About 15 years ago I switched exclusively to oil and soft pastels and stopped working with oil paint, which was starting to give me problems, even with a mask!!!!
Hi Poul,
I’m glad you found a solution to your problems and started using pastels. Please also read this important article “Are Your Art Materials Making You Sick?” and especially the many comments received from artists who share their experiences and solutions. I learned so much from them!
Please share these articles with your students and fellow artists.
Stay safe and enjoy the best of health!
Love your articles. I often use a special kneeling chair by Knokke. A danish design to sit with a straight back.
Thank you Yvonne! The kneeling chair by Knokke is an excellent idea!
My iPhone and watch make me stand up and take breaks. Living back in NYC on gasp the human 21st floor but the dog 24 (A) floor makes me get up often and take 9-24 minute walks not counting actual dog business.
Altho I have a one bedroom not small by city standards, I don’t think my work would allow standing to do my art.
But standing and getting up does make me lose my train of thought which adds to weird ideas in my art.
Tommy
Hi Tommy, That’s great that you are using tools to get up periodically, get outside, exercise, and create art in the way that serves you best. NYC has a lot of fascinating places where you can meander and people to discover with new creative ideas. I’m sure you will never be bored!
So on the point! My hands go through shock and stiffened up. Arthritis! I’m not youngster,
been an professional artist a long time.
I stretch and sit down, walk the hall say hello to my artists peers!
When I first stated carving stone almost 40 years ago, I was dating a great gal who worked for OSHA. She was adamant that I use all the safety equipment available. To this day, I am so grateful to her for protecting me. though I look like Darthvader when I am carvingfrom head to toe. Sturdy wookbboots, back brace, respirator, goggles, hearing protectors, special vibration absorbing gloves, etc.
thank you Kristi where ever you are.
Thank you T Barny for sharing that memory with us and I’m glad you followed Kristi’s advice. And, for readers who are curious to see what T Barny looks like when he works, visit this page http://tbarny.com/the-artist-2/#STUDIO
Many artists and other highly creative people have mental health challenges (e.g. depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety). Don’t neglect that aspect of your health. There is such a stigma in society that prevents open conversation about mental health. Take care of your mental health.
I have bipolar II disorder and it’s a daily challenge even with great care devoted to staying healthy.
Dear Gerry, Your photography is fantastic! Thank you for your comment and caring about fellow artists. Take good care of yourself and keep sharing your inspirational photographs.
I’m extremely careful about what’s in the art materials that I use. Which is an extremely good positive that came out of an unfortunate event when I discovered that pine resin (used in Chinese chunk yellow, aka true gamboge) is poisonous.
After that experience believe you me, I invested in invisible gloves and materials that use non-poisonous pigments.
Someone told me that without poisonous metals like lead, cadmium, and cobolt salts, I will never make glowing and colorful works of art. I stopped listening to them, because there’s a whole wealth of pigments with strong tinting strengths and attributes being developed every year that don’t involve poison. I think they might have just not wanted to change how they work.
Good for you Ava for not taking that person’s ridiculous advice and for finding healthier alternative materials. You may also want to read, in case you haven’t already, “Are Your Art Materials Making You Sick?” Thank you for the information about Chinese chunk yellow and “Invisible Glove”.
Thanks, I’ve been reading a lot of the site this morning and saving useful articles for future reference to my Evernote. There are a ton of useful articles and my Evernote art reference folder is burgeoning with info. ^_^
Ava, I’m so glad to know that! I wish you many joyful hours of reading and creating beautiful nature-inspired art!
Wonderful article with good advice, Renee. Thank you!