Brain Games with Art

Stimulate your brain while getting creative with these art projects. 

Art activities can stimulate our intellect and mind. Brain games with art can encourage critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity. 

Examples of art mediums that can be used include drawing, painting, writing and unconventional crafty projects. Here are some unique brain games with art for all ages to try on your own or with others:

Art Puzzle: Make your own art puzzle by coloring your own puzzle pieces and assembling them.

Back-and-Forth Drawing or Connecting Painting: Take turns adding to a collaborative drawing. I like to call this “musical canvas,” where you incorporate music and much like musical chairs, switch the art back-and-forth until an image is made. Or work together to connect a painting to make one image. 

Scribble Drawing Game: Start with a quick scribble for a drawing prompt and see what it reminds you of to turn into a drawing of your own. Or make it into an evolving abstract painting.

Blind Contour Drawing: This is a fun drawing technique to see what you can make. Look at an image, still-life or something from your thoughts and imagination — without looking at your paper at all.

Trying these games and creating these types of activities promote cognitive growth, enhance fine motor skills and can even increase dopamine levels — leading to feelings of happiness and well-being. 

Critical thinking and problem-solving art projects, such as crafty collages, often involve making choices about colors, arrangements and compositions, which encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 

Art activities that enhance cognitive stimulation and memory may include drawing, painting or even coloring, which stimulate the brain by engaging different areas, including the visual and motor cortex. Learning a new artistic skill, like drawing, requires memory and focus, which can help improve memory and cognitive function. 

Art projects inspire creativity and imagination and provide a space for creative expression while allowing individuals to explore different ideas and perspectives. Activities such as writing stories, painting abstract designs or creating sculptures with clay can encourage this imagination and creativity. These activities also enhance fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Art is a powerful tool for emotional expression, well-being and is beneficial for overall mental health. It helps with processing emotions and finding a healthy outlet for feelings. Tapping into your creative side and just appreciating art in itself, can increase dopamine levels in the brain, heal and lead to feelings of happiness and well-being. Keep creating!

Diana Shabtai, Psy.D., ATR-BC, “Miss Dee,” created Art Therapy OC in 2012. arttherapyoc.com