For almost 20 years, I have observed firsthand what art-making and creative education does for people of all ages. Having said that, every time there’s some new research or a book that I can sink my teeth into I get super excited.

Last week I came across the New York Times bestseller Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, and the authors have shared numerous observational and scientific studies that confirm how important art making is for people of all ages.

Co-author Susan Magsamen adds: “When we make art with our hands, like drawing or building with clay, our brains go into a sense of timelessness. Like mediation, it helps you enter a state of mind when you’re not judging or criticizing…you’re releasing things like oxytocin. You’re also lowering cortisol.”

People ask me all the time why do I do… It simply comes down to helping people grow and learn… with a massive dose of health and wellness on top.