I have never put much focus on drawing in my life. I would draw or doodle when I was younger, but drawing for an art class tended to bring me frustration. This “Art in Dialogue” video reminded me of the benefits and the joy drawing can bring. First, I loved how the students traveling put their primary focus on the experience and the moment rather than the perfection of the art they were making. The interactions with friends and the fascinations of nature are just as important in the creation of their piece because when they go back and reflect on their work, memories and feelings will come flooding back giving even greater meaning to the piece. I believe this is the true value of visual journaling.
Additionally, I found Ian Burkey’s points about art and mindfulness very interesting. He mentioned that mindfulness is pausing long enough when looking at a picture to sense what about it stimulates you and to think about how it makes you feel physically, cognitively, and emotionally. Burkey also mentioned how stimulations activate our minds and when they decrease, our brain starts to gradually slow down. This especially resonated with me because in a crazy time like today when we find ourselves in isolation, we are lacking these essential stimulations, but looking at and appreciating art can change that. Similarly, immersing ourselves in creative projects allows us to lose track of time and forget about the outside world, which in today’s day and age with advancements in technology and constant notifications, we rarely get to come by despite its importance.
This video allowed me to remember the significance of art and learn a lot about visual journaling, which I didn’t know about before.
